FAME!: For poniesby Phoebus MaximusChaptersI pray I make P.A.Freshman YearSophomore YearJunior YearSenior YearI pray I make P.A.In a small room in the attic of a miniature mansion, a small purple dragon sits at the window. Spike stares out his window staring at the street willing the mail pony to come deliver his destiny. He twiddles his fingers and his tail twitches every time a pony comes down the street. Because of today, is the day. He has dreamt of this day ever since he auditioned to get into Canterlot P.A. He would major in music, of course, he would play the piano. He was passionate about piano and dreamed to find a songwriting partner or make a band. This summer had been spent wishing that he would stand out starting ninth grade. He was hoping and hoping he would make P.A. and not have to face the shame of CHS. Being a budding artist, he knew he could. It was just a matter of- wait! The mail pony! Spike leaped out of his skin. He grabbed it and raced down the stairs. He ran faster than he had ever run to get to the mailbox. He threw the door open and bounded onto the street. He stopped at his mailbox giving the mail pony quite a fright. "Spike." He said. "202 Canterlot Avenue. Spike. Got anything for me?" He stared at the brown stallion expectantly as he was handed a stack of magazines. The mail pony backed away as Spike dug into the pile and pulled out a manila envelope just the right size for a certificate of acceptance. He tore it open. "I MADE PA!" Rarity stood at her mailbox fluffing up he mane and adding more sequins to her golden shoes. They glinted in the sunlight and blinded pedestrians. She pulled off her sweatshirt as the sun rose in the sky. She was wearing a brilliant tank top that rivaled the glitz of her shoes. She fluffed up her golden tutu and trotted about the mailbox expectantly. Rarity wanted to be famous. She wanted to be famous FAST. Instant fame. She wanted ponies to say "There she goes! Rarity! Not the movie, not the opera, but the real live pony!" And if she made P.A., those dreams would come true. She resorted to twirling in the sunlight for a little bit and almost missed the mail pony as he slid letters into her mailbox. "GAH!" She squealed as she saw a manila envelope go into the box. She rushed forward and ripped the letter from his brown hoof before he had even put it in the bag. Mercilessly, she tore it open and jumped up and down causing her sequins to create a miniature sun that blinded the mail pony. "I MADE P.A.!" Rainbow Dash sat with her headphones blaring on the living room couch. As she pounded her head to her bass beats, a brown stallion delivered a manila envelope to her mailbox. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a stallion leave. Coolly, she stood up and trotted outside. Her rainbow mane blew in the subtle breeze as she dusted chip crumbs of her legs. She switched the volume off on her headphones and started break dancing down to the mailbox. As she opened the door, she saw a manila envelope with her name on it. Slowly, it dawned on her. If this was what she thought it was, she could introduce a whole new style of dance. Picking up her pace, she tore the envelope open and let it fall to the ground. "I MADE P.A.!" Fluttershy was reading Romeo and Juliet the day her destiny was delivered to her in a manila envelope. She wanted to be an actress. She wanted to play Juliet. She wanted to star in an epic love story of her own. P.A. could help her achieve that. For the thousandth time, she was reading her favorite parts in old Shakespeare's love story. Romeo and Juliet were by far her favorite characters. She stared wistfully out her window, pretending that she was Juliet. Sitting on a balcony, a lover below her calling her name. A brown stallion. A brown stallion? Where did that come from? The mail pony! Fluttershy dropped her book and flew outside. "Is there anything for me?" She zoomed up to the stallion's face and interrogated him as he pulled out a single manila envelope addressed to her. She gasped and hugged the envelope to the chest as she twirled in the air. Then, she took a deep breath and opened it. Praying for her love scene to begin. "I MADE P.A.!" Starlight Glimmer grimaced as the peanut butter commercial interrupted her TV programming. Disgusted, she changed the channel. Her smiling self, holding a jar of peanut butter haunted her. Everyone said she got this whole stardom thing gifted to her on a silver platter but to her, being in that commercial just made her a fool. Her agent might think she was gonna make it in the big leagues because of it, but she didn't want to. She wanted to make real magic on the stage. She wanted to be an actress. Not just some random girl who advertised filly nut peanut butter for life. And today was the day that could make or break this dream. Today, she had sat patiently. Today, the mail pony would come and seal her hopes in one sealed manila envelope. "Filly nut peanut butter! One taste-" With that, Starlight turned the TV off and snorted. Sighing, she stood up to go get a drink of water, when she saw him. The brown stallion that delivered the Monday mail, had just come to her mailbox. Hurriedly, she scurried outside and curtly greeted the mail pony. Squealing, she opened the box and pulled out an envelope for her. With her left hoof, she slid a letter out of the envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Pinkie Pie was gorging herself on more and more cupcakes each day. This aspiring dancer was eating her weight in them every day. She had tried diet after diet to no avail. If she made Canterlot P.A., she knew that they could give her a plan so that she could dance her hear out, eat her heart out, and still be in shape. She sighed as she opened a box of vanilla cupcakes and looked up at the sky. "Oh Celestia, help me find a way to-" But she was cut off by the sound of hooves clopping on the cobblestone street. Dropping her box of cupcakes, she scampered out to greet the mail pony a few houses down and said to him, "Pinkie Pie. Got anything for me? From Canterlot P.A.?" The brown stallion rolled his eyes and pulled out a manila envelope for her. Her big blue eyes lit up like they did when she saw chocolate cake as she opened the letter. "I MADE P.A.!" Bon-Bon trotted out to her mailbox with her drum sticks in hand. Smiling all the way down the driveway, she waved down the mail pony and received a single manila envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Lyra scooted open the mailbox door and opened her manila envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Cheese Sandwich bounded into his house and broke Boneless's eardrums as he screamed, "I MADE P.A.!" And just like that, the next class of possible stars was about to embark on a four-year journey of hope, sweat, food, glitz, glam, love, and at the end of the day, FAME! Freshman YearFour teachers stood in front of the line of jittery freshmen. The line of students buzzed with excitement. The teacher in the middle, a strong looking, lilac, alicorn raised her head and the crowd was silenced. "Hello. I am your English teacher. Twilight Sparkle. These three are the leaders of your major." She said, gesturing to the three teachers standing behind her. "Now. I will announce a teacher's name, their major, and their students. When I call your name, stand with your major." The line of students buzzed with excitement as the three teachers moved to separate parts of the room. This was where they would begin their journies. "Acting!" Twilight announced. "Led by Sunburst. Cheese Sandwich, Fluttershy, and Starlight Glimmer." A grizzled and slightly slouching yellow stallion with a clean cut orange beard, stepped forward to receive a bouncing yellow stallion with an afro, a whimsy wisp of a buttery yellow pegasus hiding behind her pink hair, and a proud lilac unicorn with streaks of teal in her done-up mane. Sunburst raised his eyebrow at his three new recruits and stepped forward. "Acting. Is the hardest profession ever. You must learn how to discover yourself in order to truly retain a role." "Dance!" Twilight shouted. "Led by Coltura. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie." A snowy-white mare with a curled mane streaked with purples and blues stepped up to greet a glammed up unicorn in glittery heels, a blue bolt Pegasus with headphones around her neck and a rainbow mane, and a bounding pink on pink pony with a huge smile and a cup of pudding in her hoof. Coltura put on a forced smile. "No headphones." was all she said. But she said it with the slightest movement of her hooves that suggested a lifelong dancer. "Music!" Twilight announced. "Led by Cheerilee. Bon-Bon, Lyra, and Spike." A pinkish pony trotted up to a yellow pony with a curled mane, a teal mare with streaks of white in her jagged mane, and a purple baby dragon." She trotted by and turned her nose up. "Each one of you freshmen has worked incredibly hard to get here. and we have worked incredibly hard to select you. Do not let us down. Getting to stardom will be one of the hardest things in your life. Do not think that just because you are here you get a free ride. If that is what you are thinking, then you could not be more wrong. you will work hard and you will endure HARD WORK!" The last bit of Twilight's speech made all of the students jump. "Now get off to your first class!" With that, the nervous excitement in the room exploded as ponies tripped over each other to get to class. Ready for hard work. "Hey Ms.Cheerilee," Spike walked over to his music teacher, "we wanna start a band." "A band?" Cheerille turned her head to see Spike, with a binder of piano music, and Lyra with a lyre. "Piano and lyre?" "And drums!" Spike interjected. Bon-Bon rushed into the room, drumsticks in hand. "What kind of music would your...band, play?" "Ummm. Classic rock?" Spike sheepishly said. Cheerilee looked at their expectant faces suspiciously and then smiled. "Fine. If Canterlot P.A. wants a classic rock band, a classic rock band it'll get!" The three of them leaped with joy as Spike opened his binder. They poured over sheets of classical music as Bon-Bonn clicked her sticks together with rhythms, and Lyra plucked notes. "Boy is this gonna be a long year," Cheerille muttered. "Now! Everyone at the barre. Time to practice Adagio!" Coltura waited for her students to line up. "One, two, three-?" "I'm here! Ms.Coltura I'm here!" Rarity dashed in in a glitzy bullet. "Rarity, so glad you decided to join us. Now, let me introduce you all to a special guest. Applejack." A peach colored pony trotted in. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail over her shoulder.She trotted over to the barre and slipped in behind Rainbow Dash. "Wonderful. Now that we're all here, let's practice Adagio." With that, the music turned on. Coltura trotted around the barre as the ponies danced. Applejack was a graceful swan, Rarity moved in ways so that the light would catch her sequined ensemble, Pinkie cheerily bounced along, and Rainbow Dash...sort of made up her own stuff. "Beautiful Applejack. Such grace." Coltura exclaimed. "Rarity, follow the music. Not the light." Coltura added, shielding her eyes. "Pinkie Pie, this is ADAGIO. Not Polkas on 45!" "Rainbow Dash?" Then, Coltura trotted over to the speakers and turned the music off. "Listen," she said. "I know you all have it in you. That's why I chose you. It's the first day, I know you'll all get so much better. But I need you all to promise me something. I need you all to promise that from here on out, you will only bring your best selves to my class. Understood?" Everyone nodded. The bell rang. "Dismissed. Rainbow! Wait!" She called out. "Follow the music next time." She said and then she waved the blue bolt out of class. "This is going to be a long year," she muttered Starlight Glimmer was deep in Hamlet when she heard a small peep come from in front of her. "Um, hello?" Starlight bookmarked her page and peered down to see the timid yellow pegasus from her acting class. "Hello." Starlight said with a smile "Um, you're the one from the filly nut commercial. Right?" Fluttershy asked. Starlight groaned "Yes." "Wow." Her eyes lit up. "You're so lucky! You're already super duper famous. Um, could I have your autograph?" "Sorry, no." Starlight could see Fluttershy's ears droop. "Sorry. Listen," she said. "That isn't what I want to be known for around here." "But-" "I don't want to make my living with filly nut! I want to really perform. I want to make magic!" "Oh." Fluttershy exclaimed."Me too!" The two shared a small smile and then Starlight nodded and returned to Hamlet. As she trotted away, Fluttershy sighed. In her head, her love scene was just getting cast. "Now places places!" Coltura nodded to Applejack who trotted over to her. As she walked away, Rainbow stared at her. She did the same the whole of the class. Even when Coltura yelled at her for not following the music, even when she could see Applejack smirk at her. "She's way out of your league buddy." Pinkie whispered. "Wha- I- no- she-" rainbow stuttered. Pinkie just laughed. At the end of class, Applejack tapped Rainbow on the shoulder. "You need to work on our Swan Lake piece. You won't get anywhere if you don't try." "Ballet just isn't my strong suit okay?" "Yes. But you could get better if you tried." "No-" "Yes! You could! You can't just not try okay?" At this statement, her voice fell to reveal a country accent. "Huh?" Rainbow leaned forward. "Why are you talking differently now?" "I was afraid none'd like me if I talked like I really do. My family, well, we're not city folk alright?" "But, you're so good! Everyone loves you!" "You certainly don't young missy. Y'all hate me!" "I don't!" Rainbow called. She immediately scorned herself. "I do like you. A lot." "I like you too!" With that, Applejack stormed out of the room leaving Rainbow Dash blushing madly. Sophomore YearThe lunch room buzzed as students of all grades mingled at long metal tables eating sandwiches and drinking water out of various colored bottles. Some ponies had their heads in play books, some scribbled down last minute homework, and most chatted away. At one table on the far left of the cafeteria, Pinkie Pie joined Rarity. Rarity looked up from her lunch to see Pinkie's tray. "Pinkie. You can't eat all of that darling!" "But. I. Love. Food!" "Darling, you're a dancer!" "So what? I've tried every diet ever!" "Darling-" "I thought coming here, that Ms.Bell would tell me how to fix this. But no." "Pinkie," Rarity began. "Darling I am going to have to take some of that." "Rarity no!" Just then, Cheese Sandwich tapped Rarity's shoulder. He had donned heart shaped sunglasses. "Hey, Jalapeno." "What is it Cheese?" Rarity said with clenched teeth. "Wanna hang out?" "No Cheese I do not want to 'hang out'" "We've got a lot in common." "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Rarity said curtly. "I mean You're hot-" "You're not!" With that, Rarity wheeled around and pushed him back the way he came from. She watched him smugly retreat to a table where Spike and Starlight Glimmer sat. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Pinkie and her lunch. "The see food diet is the best." Pinkie said cheerfully. "Seafood?" Rarity questioned, looking for salmon. "Yeah! I see food and I eat it!" Rarity slapped a palm to her face. "Mr.Sunburst I'm sorry okay?" Rarity pleaded. "I have to get to this audition!" Sunburst put a hoof to his temple. "Listen Miss. Rarity, I'm just concerned that you don't know you!" "Don't know me?" Rarity was fuming. "I know me and I know that I have to get to this audition!" "Miss. Rarity, you can't just go looking for more roles to hide behind! You have to face yourself!" With that, Sunburst trotted off with his head in the air. "Hmph. Don't know me? What does he know?" Rarity stepped into a beam of light outside pretending that a spotlight rained down on her. She closed her eyes and around her, the scene changed. She had donned a dress of pure silver. I shone in the spotlights sending miniature galaxies into the crowds of adoring fans. He mane fell gracefully around her in a curtain of silky purple. Her hooves were adorned with delicate bangles and they cast a moonlit glow across the stage. The spotlight trained itself on her and she stole a glance at the adoring ponies in the audience. Just dying to get a glimpse of Rarity. Not the opera, not the movie, but the real life pony. Then, she only heard applause. It rained down on her with a torrent of roses. It sounded like a waterfall rushing right to her feet. An ode to her fame. This was her dream. But Canterlot P.A. was getting less and less able to fulfill it. "Fluttershy! You need to play in character!" "I'm sorry Starlight, I just-" Fluttershy broke off and bowed her head. "Fluttershy. Listen, you are amazing but you just aren't playing the role right!" Starlight said with a shake of her head. "Maybe it's because you always choose plays where I play someone I can't relate to! All year, you haven't asked about my character's relatability!" Fluttershy was holding back sobs now. "Fluttershy," Starlight began. She bit her lip. "What kind of play do you want to do?" She asked, her tone softening. Fluttershy perked up a bit and reached a buttery yellow hoof into her bag. She pulled out a small blue script and a sheet of paper from her bag. She held up the book and ignored the paper. "Romeo and Juliet?" Starlight asked. "Romeo and Juliet," Fluttershy confirmed. "Something more relatable. Not necessarily this, but just something-" Fluttershy cut off when she saw Starlight eying the paper by her bag. Fluttershy leaned forward to pick it up, but Starlight was quicker. "Why do you carry my headshot in your bag?" Starlight asked, holding up the paper with a smiling picture of her. Fluttershy' cheeks reddened. "I- you-" "NO!" Starlight screamed. "Just no!" She ripped the paper in half and started to storm out. "Fluttershy, you need to find yourself a new scene partner!" With that, she turned her head and ran. "Starlight-" Fluttershy called. But it was useless. "Why can't we play a love scene?" Fluttershy whispered. Spike smiled as his little purple fingers flitted over the keys. His new song was in front of him on a stand and it just begged for lyrics. He paused and thought for a second. Eventually, he would need someone to sing it with or just someone to start it with. He had his band but he still didn't have a songwriting partner. He sighed and returned to his keys. He got so lost in the melody that he didn't hear Rarity come in through the door behind him. She slowly walked over, paper in her hoof, and when she reached the piano, she became entranced by Spike's song. She swayed a bit as she raised a hoof over his shoulder. She gently brought it down and then slammed it on his shoulder. Spike's fingers splayed across the keys and his face contorted as he spun around to face Rarity. "Gah!" He said. "I didn't hear you come in." Rarity giggled a bit at his surprise but then stiffened. "I brought these." She said, thrusting him the paper. "Lyrics for your song!" A smile spread across her face as he took the sheet and read them. "Rarity these are actually really good!" Spike exclaimed. "Please, I recognize a top ten hit when I hear one. These lyrics will certainly bring your song to the next level." Rarity added with a hair flip. "Can I try them out?" Spike asked sheepishly. "Sure!" Rarity said with a smile. As Spike began the song with his piano intro, Rarity smiled. Then, he added Rarity's vocals. As the song progressed, the two of them swayed to the music they had created. Then, Rarity joined in with a harmony at her favorite part. The two voices blended perfectly as the song oozed into a beautiful trickle of an ending. When the song ended, they both let out a breath. Spike turned to Rarity. "That was amazing! I mean, I've written songs before, but you're right! Your lyrics made it so much more special!" Spike said with breathless gusto. "Well, I told you so," Rarity added with a smug smile. "How'd you like to be my songwriting partner?" Spike asked. He could see the question flit around in Rarity's head. "How 'bout yes!" Rarity exclaimed. "With songs like these, we'll be famous in no time!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash were practicing for the junior festival with Ms.Coultura when Twilight stormed in and turned off the music. The three looked at her with concern. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight began, "Your book report bore a striking resemblance to Applejack's." She said, cutting straight to the point. "So?" Applejack stepped up, "we study together, of course, our reports look similar!" "No," Twilight interjected. "They are identical. Sadly, this means that Rainbow Dash will not be able to perform the Junior festival because she did not pass Sophomore English." Twilight stated. Ms.Coltura scowled. "Would you two wait outside a moment?" Applejack and Rainbow Dash exited. "That girl can dance," Coltura stated. "She can." Twilight began. "But she can't because she didn't pass my class." "But-" "This school is an academic school just as much as it is a performing arts school. Everyone told me as a filly to put my faith in books. Artists are just ponies." "Artists are not just ponies," Coltura exclaimed. "Artists are passionate dreamers! Artists follow and lead the world! Artists are visionaries!" The two scowled at each other until Twilight sighed. "Fine. I'll make a deal." "I'm listening," Coltura said. "If Dash can pass Sophomore English in summer school, she can perform at your junior festival." "Deal. Dash!" Coltura called. Rainbow Dash trotted in. "Follow Twilight." Twilight escorted Rainbow out of the studio. Junior Year"Spike I just can't do this anymore!" Rarity cried. Rarity had run into Spike in the band wing after a run in with Mr.Sunburst. "Rarity it's okay," Spike reassured her. "No! No, it isn't okay! He doesn't understand." "I don't know Rarity, he kind of does." "What?!" Rarity cried. "I mean," Spike gulped, "he is right just right about this. You need to discover yourself. You keep hiding behind your roles so that you don't have to be you." "You're starting to sound like one of them!" Rarity screeched. "Maybe that's what you need!" Spike blurted. "ah-" Rarity spluttered. She regained composure. "I just want to be famous okay? I just want to get up there!" She cried. "But Rarity, it doesn't work that way! You have to work to your goals. Fame isn't just served to you on a silver platter!" Spike countered. "Easy for you to say!" Rarity huffed. "Your parents are already famous! All you need is an agent and you're on the top ten list!" "No," Spike said sadly. "Everyone in my family is a perfectionist. Nothing I do is ever good enough." Spike's ears flattened and he looked at the ground. "Spike," Rarity began, her voice quiet. "What you do is good enough for me," she said. Spike looked up at her "I'm sorry." "It's what I needed to hear," Rarity smiled. "From now on," Spike started. "Let's be a team." "No more fighting." Rarity confirmed. "I've got it." "And I've got you!" Spike added with a wink. The two embraced just as the bell rang. Then, with frantic looks on their faces, they scurried off to class. Lyra and Bon-Bon skidded down the hallway together to get to the band room. Since Spike was busy writing with Rarity, the two had decided to arrange a simple piano duet for the junior festival. The two collapsed in laughter in front of the piano. As they pulled themselves onto the bench, a simple melody came to Bon-Bon. Placing her hooves on the upper part of the keys, she began to play. After a moment, Lyra joined in on the bottom notes and their tones blended perfectly. At one point, their hooves both reached for middle C. This sent a great smile through both of them. "Places everyone!" Coltura cried. "Where is Rarity?" Juniors paced excitedly as the teachers assembled them for their first junior festival dress rehearsal. Dancers were decked out in beautiful black topped dresses that puffed out into puffy tulle tutus of pinks and yellows. Actors were donned in the costumes for their play short. The rest of the music students had different outfits on their hooves for their different acts. An electric energy buzzed through the backstage area as the house lights dimmed. Then, Rarity rushed in. She fluffed her skirt and smiled at Coltura who scowled back. Over the next two hours, scenes changed, colors flashed, lights shone, voices sounded through the school, and hooves whirled in rhythm. "Wonderful!" Ms.Coltura called out at the end. "Come back tomorrow for final dress." Rainbow Dash slunk out of the auditorium and into Twilight Sparkle. "Ms.Twilight-" Rainbow started. "Ms.Rainbow," Twilight began. "I am very proud that you passed Sophomore English over summer school and the past few weeks." Then, she flashed Rainbow Dash her first ever smile. Fluttershy was rushing to the front of the school when she literally ran into Starlight Glimmer. "Oh!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "I'm so sorry Starlight! I was going to see the cast list for Romeo and Juliet!" "Oh." Starlight said with a happy sadness to her voice. "I saw the list already and I wanted to find you." Starlight cleared her throat. "You're Juliet." Fluttershy's insides lit up with happiness as she opened her wings and spun around in the air. She took Starlight's lilac hoof in hers. "With your natural acting abilities we'll-" But Starlight cut her off. "I'm Mercutio." She said simply. Fluttershy's face fell. "Then, who's Romeo?" She asked desperately. Just then, an outraged Cheese Sandwich stormed in. "ROMEO? How am I supposed to be THIS guy?" He stormed out. Fluttershy's jaw hit the floor. Maybe this love scene was too much for her. "It's okay." Starlight whispered. Fluttershy looked up at her. "I'm sorry." She added, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm sorry for how I treated you about my headshot I-," her face fell. "I still want to be your scene partner. But Cheese is now so-" "No," Fluttershy said. "Cheese may be my lover on stage, but you and I should still be friends off stage." She ended with a smile. Starlight's eyes caught hers and they were filled with true happiness. Maybe a friendship is better than love Fluttershy thought to herself. "Rarity. Please listen to me." Mr.Sunburst trotted up to Rarity as she shoved the contents of her locker into a giant silver tote. "You can't do this." "Look Mr.Sunburst," Rarity said. "I want to be famous! Three years of self-reflection has gotten me nowhere! I need to move on now Mr.Sunburst!" "Ms.Rarity, the only reason that you have spent your last three years at Canterolt P.A. reflecting, is because you can't find yourself! If you just tapped into who you are, you could get to what you think is further!" Rarity snorted. "Fine then," Sunburst said. "I know I can't stop you from leaving. But let me tell you, leaving would be the greatest mistake of your life." Rarity paused as Sunburst's words sunk in. She bowed her head and waited for his footsteps to fade down the hallway. "So you're leaving." A familiar voice sounded. "And I'm the last to know." Rarity turned. "Spike I-" "Rarity!" Spike cried. "I thought you had changed. I thought that we were enough!" Spike's eyes were welling up with tears. "Spike I just-" But she had no words. "Photo finish is going to make me what I've always wanted to be." "What?" Spike asked. "Another pretty face that no one will remember? 'Cause that's what you're going to be if you take this route." "Spike-" Spike's voice quieted. "I thought I was enough. I thought I had finally found a partner. But no. I guess fame really does things to ponies." "Fine!" Rarity sobbed. "Be that way! I'll-" But she had no way to defend herself. Her words turned to silent sobs as Spike ran off in tears. Fame did have a dark side. But she-didn't know what to think. "I can't do it anymore!" Pinkie screamed as she pounced on Applejack for her applesauce. "For Celestia's sake why can't this be easy?" "Pinkie Pie! I need my applesauce!" Applejack called. "You know what?" Pinkie said. "I give up! I can still dance, I can still sing. So why try to control this?" She gestured to her stomach. With that, she grabbed Applejack's applesauce and skipped out of the cafeteria. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called at the end of English class. "I believe I have figured it out." Rainbow Dash trotted to Twilight's desk, leaving Applejack waiting behind her. "Read this to me." Twilight handed Rainbow Dash a book called CANTERLOT P.A. GUIDE BOOK. A nervous sweat broke out all over Rainbow as she stuttered out the first sentence. "I knew it!" Twilight cried "You ARE dyslexic! Tell me Rainbow, what do you see on this page?" Rainbow gulped. "A blurry cloud of jumbled letters." Twilight smiled. "I'll let you go now, but if you work with me a little bit, I know I'll get you reading in no time!" With that, Rainbow trotted back over to Applejack. "You used me." Applejack said. "What?" "All those times I helped you with your homework! If you had just told me you couldn't read then we could've figured something else out!" Applejack began to storm out. "Applejack wait-" But it was no use. Senior Year"Cheese Sandwich do you even hear yourself?" Mr.Sunburst was exasperated at this point. Over the past hour of play practice, Cheese hadn' progressed in his role and Starlight kept butting in. "I gave you this role for a challenge!" "Well, maybe it was too much of a challenge!" Cheese exclaimed. "Did you ever think that maybe I don't want to play Mr. star crossed lover boy?" "Maybe he didn't think if I wanted him to be my Mr.Star crossed lover either," Fluttershy muttered to Starlight. Sunburst put a hoof to his temple and groaned. "Who would I replace you with?" Sunburst moaned. "Anyone but me." Cheese said. Then, out of the blue, Starlight took Fluttershy's hoof and began to speak Romeo's line. Fluttershy followed with her response. The two circled each other, hoof in hoof and read through an entire scene in total perfection. "What about Starlight?" Cheese asked. "You know what?" Sunburst said. "I'm not even going to argue." "Wow!" Fluttershy said. "That was amazing!" "We'll blow the rest of P.A. out of the water with Romeo and Juliet for sure now!" With that, the two went back to the next scene with huge smiles in their hearts. "Applejack! You haven't talked to me all semester! What happened?" Rainbow Dash had been trying to pry words out of her all morning to no avail. "Look." Apple whirled around and scowled at Rainbow. "The apple blight has gotten to a small part of the orchard and our family is tryin' as hard as we possibly can to keep it there and get it out! All right?" She was screaming by the end of it. Rainbow knew that Applejack cared about her family and orchard more than anything else, but she couldn't help but feel rejected. "I'm sorry." Rainbow whispered. "I didn't want to make things worse for you." "Naw. You're fine." Applejack said with a small smile. "I can read now." Rainbow began. "Just one poem." Applejack snorted. "It's a start!" Rainbow protested. "It's just like I told you back when I first got here, you'll never get anywhere if you don't try." "But I am trying!" Rainbow cried. "I am." She whispered as Applejack walked away. Graduation day. The seniors buzzed with bitter happiness. They all donned black graduation robes and caps and waited for the curtain to rise on their future. At this point, the senior class all had at least temporary gigs that they could pursue until they found permanent slots in life. The teachers flitted around before taking their places on stage for their speeches. Then, after what seemed like hours of tear wrenching speeches, the students all came out and performed little snippets of what they had worked on during their time at CPA. Then, they all separated into groups by major. It was just like that first day of school when they were all buzzing with excitement and nervousness. But now, it was different. They had all been through so much together. They had formed and broken bonds. They had become one. After each of them had officially graduated, Spike walked up to the mic. "The song we are going to sing was written by a fellow student of ours. Rarity. Sadly, she left us and we-" Spike swallowed his tears. "She was a star and always will be. No matter what. Thank you so very much Rarity. Wherever you are." Standing outside the school. Parents were everywhere. Students were saying their goodbyes. Spike stood on his own leaning against a pillar. "SPIKE!" Lyra and Bon-Bon called and waved him over. After he walked over, they all shared a big group hug. "To the band!" Spike called, raising his hand in the air. "To the band!" Two other hooves hit his palm. And even though he didn't have Rarity, he still had fulfilled his dreams. "Applejack." A timid pegasus approached her. "Rainbow. I'm sorry." And that was all that needed to be said. "Can we just stay friends?" Rainbow whispered through tears. "Yes. Yes, we can." Applejack responded with a smile. "Starlight?" Fluttershy asked. "Yeah?" "No matter what-" She but her lip. "No matter what, can we still be partners?" "Forever and ever." Starlight confirmed. That's when they all knew taht even thoguh they may have lost so much in those four years, the friendships that they gained were entirely worth it.
I pray I make P.A.In a small room in the attic of a miniature mansion, a small purple dragon sits at the window. Spike stares out his window staring at the street willing the mail pony to come deliver his destiny. He twiddles his fingers and his tail twitches every time a pony comes down the street. Because of today, is the day. He has dreamt of this day ever since he auditioned to get into Canterlot P.A. He would major in music, of course, he would play the piano. He was passionate about piano and dreamed to find a songwriting partner or make a band. This summer had been spent wishing that he would stand out starting ninth grade. He was hoping and hoping he would make P.A. and not have to face the shame of CHS. Being a budding artist, he knew he could. It was just a matter of- wait! The mail pony! Spike leaped out of his skin. He grabbed it and raced down the stairs. He ran faster than he had ever run to get to the mailbox. He threw the door open and bounded onto the street. He stopped at his mailbox giving the mail pony quite a fright. "Spike." He said. "202 Canterlot Avenue. Spike. Got anything for me?" He stared at the brown stallion expectantly as he was handed a stack of magazines. The mail pony backed away as Spike dug into the pile and pulled out a manila envelope just the right size for a certificate of acceptance. He tore it open. "I MADE PA!" Rarity stood at her mailbox fluffing up he mane and adding more sequins to her golden shoes. They glinted in the sunlight and blinded pedestrians. She pulled off her sweatshirt as the sun rose in the sky. She was wearing a brilliant tank top that rivaled the glitz of her shoes. She fluffed up her golden tutu and trotted about the mailbox expectantly. Rarity wanted to be famous. She wanted to be famous FAST. Instant fame. She wanted ponies to say "There she goes! Rarity! Not the movie, not the opera, but the real live pony!" And if she made P.A., those dreams would come true. She resorted to twirling in the sunlight for a little bit and almost missed the mail pony as he slid letters into her mailbox. "GAH!" She squealed as she saw a manila envelope go into the box. She rushed forward and ripped the letter from his brown hoof before he had even put it in the bag. Mercilessly, she tore it open and jumped up and down causing her sequins to create a miniature sun that blinded the mail pony. "I MADE P.A.!" Rainbow Dash sat with her headphones blaring on the living room couch. As she pounded her head to her bass beats, a brown stallion delivered a manila envelope to her mailbox. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a stallion leave. Coolly, she stood up and trotted outside. Her rainbow mane blew in the subtle breeze as she dusted chip crumbs of her legs. She switched the volume off on her headphones and started break dancing down to the mailbox. As she opened the door, she saw a manila envelope with her name on it. Slowly, it dawned on her. If this was what she thought it was, she could introduce a whole new style of dance. Picking up her pace, she tore the envelope open and let it fall to the ground. "I MADE P.A.!" Fluttershy was reading Romeo and Juliet the day her destiny was delivered to her in a manila envelope. She wanted to be an actress. She wanted to play Juliet. She wanted to star in an epic love story of her own. P.A. could help her achieve that. For the thousandth time, she was reading her favorite parts in old Shakespeare's love story. Romeo and Juliet were by far her favorite characters. She stared wistfully out her window, pretending that she was Juliet. Sitting on a balcony, a lover below her calling her name. A brown stallion. A brown stallion? Where did that come from? The mail pony! Fluttershy dropped her book and flew outside. "Is there anything for me?" She zoomed up to the stallion's face and interrogated him as he pulled out a single manila envelope addressed to her. She gasped and hugged the envelope to the chest as she twirled in the air. Then, she took a deep breath and opened it. Praying for her love scene to begin. "I MADE P.A.!" Starlight Glimmer grimaced as the peanut butter commercial interrupted her TV programming. Disgusted, she changed the channel. Her smiling self, holding a jar of peanut butter haunted her. Everyone said she got this whole stardom thing gifted to her on a silver platter but to her, being in that commercial just made her a fool. Her agent might think she was gonna make it in the big leagues because of it, but she didn't want to. She wanted to make real magic on the stage. She wanted to be an actress. Not just some random girl who advertised filly nut peanut butter for life. And today was the day that could make or break this dream. Today, she had sat patiently. Today, the mail pony would come and seal her hopes in one sealed manila envelope. "Filly nut peanut butter! One taste-" With that, Starlight turned the TV off and snorted. Sighing, she stood up to go get a drink of water, when she saw him. The brown stallion that delivered the Monday mail, had just come to her mailbox. Hurriedly, she scurried outside and curtly greeted the mail pony. Squealing, she opened the box and pulled out an envelope for her. With her left hoof, she slid a letter out of the envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Pinkie Pie was gorging herself on more and more cupcakes each day. This aspiring dancer was eating her weight in them every day. She had tried diet after diet to no avail. If she made Canterlot P.A., she knew that they could give her a plan so that she could dance her hear out, eat her heart out, and still be in shape. She sighed as she opened a box of vanilla cupcakes and looked up at the sky. "Oh Celestia, help me find a way to-" But she was cut off by the sound of hooves clopping on the cobblestone street. Dropping her box of cupcakes, she scampered out to greet the mail pony a few houses down and said to him, "Pinkie Pie. Got anything for me? From Canterlot P.A.?" The brown stallion rolled his eyes and pulled out a manila envelope for her. Her big blue eyes lit up like they did when she saw chocolate cake as she opened the letter. "I MADE P.A.!" Bon-Bon trotted out to her mailbox with her drum sticks in hand. Smiling all the way down the driveway, she waved down the mail pony and received a single manila envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Lyra scooted open the mailbox door and opened her manila envelope. "I MADE P.A.!" Cheese Sandwich bounded into his house and broke Boneless's eardrums as he screamed, "I MADE P.A.!" And just like that, the next class of possible stars was about to embark on a four-year journey of hope, sweat, food, glitz, glam, love, and at the end of the day, FAME!
Freshman YearFour teachers stood in front of the line of jittery freshmen. The line of students buzzed with excitement. The teacher in the middle, a strong looking, lilac, alicorn raised her head and the crowd was silenced. "Hello. I am your English teacher. Twilight Sparkle. These three are the leaders of your major." She said, gesturing to the three teachers standing behind her. "Now. I will announce a teacher's name, their major, and their students. When I call your name, stand with your major." The line of students buzzed with excitement as the three teachers moved to separate parts of the room. This was where they would begin their journies. "Acting!" Twilight announced. "Led by Sunburst. Cheese Sandwich, Fluttershy, and Starlight Glimmer." A grizzled and slightly slouching yellow stallion with a clean cut orange beard, stepped forward to receive a bouncing yellow stallion with an afro, a whimsy wisp of a buttery yellow pegasus hiding behind her pink hair, and a proud lilac unicorn with streaks of teal in her done-up mane. Sunburst raised his eyebrow at his three new recruits and stepped forward. "Acting. Is the hardest profession ever. You must learn how to discover yourself in order to truly retain a role." "Dance!" Twilight shouted. "Led by Coltura. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie." A snowy-white mare with a curled mane streaked with purples and blues stepped up to greet a glammed up unicorn in glittery heels, a blue bolt Pegasus with headphones around her neck and a rainbow mane, and a bounding pink on pink pony with a huge smile and a cup of pudding in her hoof. Coltura put on a forced smile. "No headphones." was all she said. But she said it with the slightest movement of her hooves that suggested a lifelong dancer. "Music!" Twilight announced. "Led by Cheerilee. Bon-Bon, Lyra, and Spike." A pinkish pony trotted up to a yellow pony with a curled mane, a teal mare with streaks of white in her jagged mane, and a purple baby dragon." She trotted by and turned her nose up. "Each one of you freshmen has worked incredibly hard to get here. and we have worked incredibly hard to select you. Do not let us down. Getting to stardom will be one of the hardest things in your life. Do not think that just because you are here you get a free ride. If that is what you are thinking, then you could not be more wrong. you will work hard and you will endure HARD WORK!" The last bit of Twilight's speech made all of the students jump. "Now get off to your first class!" With that, the nervous excitement in the room exploded as ponies tripped over each other to get to class. Ready for hard work. "Hey Ms.Cheerilee," Spike walked over to his music teacher, "we wanna start a band." "A band?" Cheerille turned her head to see Spike, with a binder of piano music, and Lyra with a lyre. "Piano and lyre?" "And drums!" Spike interjected. Bon-Bon rushed into the room, drumsticks in hand. "What kind of music would your...band, play?" "Ummm. Classic rock?" Spike sheepishly said. Cheerilee looked at their expectant faces suspiciously and then smiled. "Fine. If Canterlot P.A. wants a classic rock band, a classic rock band it'll get!" The three of them leaped with joy as Spike opened his binder. They poured over sheets of classical music as Bon-Bonn clicked her sticks together with rhythms, and Lyra plucked notes. "Boy is this gonna be a long year," Cheerille muttered. "Now! Everyone at the barre. Time to practice Adagio!" Coltura waited for her students to line up. "One, two, three-?" "I'm here! Ms.Coltura I'm here!" Rarity dashed in in a glitzy bullet. "Rarity, so glad you decided to join us. Now, let me introduce you all to a special guest. Applejack." A peach colored pony trotted in. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail over her shoulder.She trotted over to the barre and slipped in behind Rainbow Dash. "Wonderful. Now that we're all here, let's practice Adagio." With that, the music turned on. Coltura trotted around the barre as the ponies danced. Applejack was a graceful swan, Rarity moved in ways so that the light would catch her sequined ensemble, Pinkie cheerily bounced along, and Rainbow Dash...sort of made up her own stuff. "Beautiful Applejack. Such grace." Coltura exclaimed. "Rarity, follow the music. Not the light." Coltura added, shielding her eyes. "Pinkie Pie, this is ADAGIO. Not Polkas on 45!" "Rainbow Dash?" Then, Coltura trotted over to the speakers and turned the music off. "Listen," she said. "I know you all have it in you. That's why I chose you. It's the first day, I know you'll all get so much better. But I need you all to promise me something. I need you all to promise that from here on out, you will only bring your best selves to my class. Understood?" Everyone nodded. The bell rang. "Dismissed. Rainbow! Wait!" She called out. "Follow the music next time." She said and then she waved the blue bolt out of class. "This is going to be a long year," she muttered Starlight Glimmer was deep in Hamlet when she heard a small peep come from in front of her. "Um, hello?" Starlight bookmarked her page and peered down to see the timid yellow pegasus from her acting class. "Hello." Starlight said with a smile "Um, you're the one from the filly nut commercial. Right?" Fluttershy asked. Starlight groaned "Yes." "Wow." Her eyes lit up. "You're so lucky! You're already super duper famous. Um, could I have your autograph?" "Sorry, no." Starlight could see Fluttershy's ears droop. "Sorry. Listen," she said. "That isn't what I want to be known for around here." "But-" "I don't want to make my living with filly nut! I want to really perform. I want to make magic!" "Oh." Fluttershy exclaimed."Me too!" The two shared a small smile and then Starlight nodded and returned to Hamlet. As she trotted away, Fluttershy sighed. In her head, her love scene was just getting cast. "Now places places!" Coltura nodded to Applejack who trotted over to her. As she walked away, Rainbow stared at her. She did the same the whole of the class. Even when Coltura yelled at her for not following the music, even when she could see Applejack smirk at her. "She's way out of your league buddy." Pinkie whispered. "Wha- I- no- she-" rainbow stuttered. Pinkie just laughed. At the end of class, Applejack tapped Rainbow on the shoulder. "You need to work on our Swan Lake piece. You won't get anywhere if you don't try." "Ballet just isn't my strong suit okay?" "Yes. But you could get better if you tried." "No-" "Yes! You could! You can't just not try okay?" At this statement, her voice fell to reveal a country accent. "Huh?" Rainbow leaned forward. "Why are you talking differently now?" "I was afraid none'd like me if I talked like I really do. My family, well, we're not city folk alright?" "But, you're so good! Everyone loves you!" "You certainly don't young missy. Y'all hate me!" "I don't!" Rainbow called. She immediately scorned herself. "I do like you. A lot." "I like you too!" With that, Applejack stormed out of the room leaving Rainbow Dash blushing madly.
Sophomore YearThe lunch room buzzed as students of all grades mingled at long metal tables eating sandwiches and drinking water out of various colored bottles. Some ponies had their heads in play books, some scribbled down last minute homework, and most chatted away. At one table on the far left of the cafeteria, Pinkie Pie joined Rarity. Rarity looked up from her lunch to see Pinkie's tray. "Pinkie. You can't eat all of that darling!" "But. I. Love. Food!" "Darling, you're a dancer!" "So what? I've tried every diet ever!" "Darling-" "I thought coming here, that Ms.Bell would tell me how to fix this. But no." "Pinkie," Rarity began. "Darling I am going to have to take some of that." "Rarity no!" Just then, Cheese Sandwich tapped Rarity's shoulder. He had donned heart shaped sunglasses. "Hey, Jalapeno." "What is it Cheese?" Rarity said with clenched teeth. "Wanna hang out?" "No Cheese I do not want to 'hang out'" "We've got a lot in common." "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Rarity said curtly. "I mean You're hot-" "You're not!" With that, Rarity wheeled around and pushed him back the way he came from. She watched him smugly retreat to a table where Spike and Starlight Glimmer sat. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Pinkie and her lunch. "The see food diet is the best." Pinkie said cheerfully. "Seafood?" Rarity questioned, looking for salmon. "Yeah! I see food and I eat it!" Rarity slapped a palm to her face. "Mr.Sunburst I'm sorry okay?" Rarity pleaded. "I have to get to this audition!" Sunburst put a hoof to his temple. "Listen Miss. Rarity, I'm just concerned that you don't know you!" "Don't know me?" Rarity was fuming. "I know me and I know that I have to get to this audition!" "Miss. Rarity, you can't just go looking for more roles to hide behind! You have to face yourself!" With that, Sunburst trotted off with his head in the air. "Hmph. Don't know me? What does he know?" Rarity stepped into a beam of light outside pretending that a spotlight rained down on her. She closed her eyes and around her, the scene changed. She had donned a dress of pure silver. I shone in the spotlights sending miniature galaxies into the crowds of adoring fans. He mane fell gracefully around her in a curtain of silky purple. Her hooves were adorned with delicate bangles and they cast a moonlit glow across the stage. The spotlight trained itself on her and she stole a glance at the adoring ponies in the audience. Just dying to get a glimpse of Rarity. Not the opera, not the movie, but the real life pony. Then, she only heard applause. It rained down on her with a torrent of roses. It sounded like a waterfall rushing right to her feet. An ode to her fame. This was her dream. But Canterlot P.A. was getting less and less able to fulfill it. "Fluttershy! You need to play in character!" "I'm sorry Starlight, I just-" Fluttershy broke off and bowed her head. "Fluttershy. Listen, you are amazing but you just aren't playing the role right!" Starlight said with a shake of her head. "Maybe it's because you always choose plays where I play someone I can't relate to! All year, you haven't asked about my character's relatability!" Fluttershy was holding back sobs now. "Fluttershy," Starlight began. She bit her lip. "What kind of play do you want to do?" She asked, her tone softening. Fluttershy perked up a bit and reached a buttery yellow hoof into her bag. She pulled out a small blue script and a sheet of paper from her bag. She held up the book and ignored the paper. "Romeo and Juliet?" Starlight asked. "Romeo and Juliet," Fluttershy confirmed. "Something more relatable. Not necessarily this, but just something-" Fluttershy cut off when she saw Starlight eying the paper by her bag. Fluttershy leaned forward to pick it up, but Starlight was quicker. "Why do you carry my headshot in your bag?" Starlight asked, holding up the paper with a smiling picture of her. Fluttershy' cheeks reddened. "I- you-" "NO!" Starlight screamed. "Just no!" She ripped the paper in half and started to storm out. "Fluttershy, you need to find yourself a new scene partner!" With that, she turned her head and ran. "Starlight-" Fluttershy called. But it was useless. "Why can't we play a love scene?" Fluttershy whispered. Spike smiled as his little purple fingers flitted over the keys. His new song was in front of him on a stand and it just begged for lyrics. He paused and thought for a second. Eventually, he would need someone to sing it with or just someone to start it with. He had his band but he still didn't have a songwriting partner. He sighed and returned to his keys. He got so lost in the melody that he didn't hear Rarity come in through the door behind him. She slowly walked over, paper in her hoof, and when she reached the piano, she became entranced by Spike's song. She swayed a bit as she raised a hoof over his shoulder. She gently brought it down and then slammed it on his shoulder. Spike's fingers splayed across the keys and his face contorted as he spun around to face Rarity. "Gah!" He said. "I didn't hear you come in." Rarity giggled a bit at his surprise but then stiffened. "I brought these." She said, thrusting him the paper. "Lyrics for your song!" A smile spread across her face as he took the sheet and read them. "Rarity these are actually really good!" Spike exclaimed. "Please, I recognize a top ten hit when I hear one. These lyrics will certainly bring your song to the next level." Rarity added with a hair flip. "Can I try them out?" Spike asked sheepishly. "Sure!" Rarity said with a smile. As Spike began the song with his piano intro, Rarity smiled. Then, he added Rarity's vocals. As the song progressed, the two of them swayed to the music they had created. Then, Rarity joined in with a harmony at her favorite part. The two voices blended perfectly as the song oozed into a beautiful trickle of an ending. When the song ended, they both let out a breath. Spike turned to Rarity. "That was amazing! I mean, I've written songs before, but you're right! Your lyrics made it so much more special!" Spike said with breathless gusto. "Well, I told you so," Rarity added with a smug smile. "How'd you like to be my songwriting partner?" Spike asked. He could see the question flit around in Rarity's head. "How 'bout yes!" Rarity exclaimed. "With songs like these, we'll be famous in no time!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash were practicing for the junior festival with Ms.Coultura when Twilight stormed in and turned off the music. The three looked at her with concern. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight began, "Your book report bore a striking resemblance to Applejack's." She said, cutting straight to the point. "So?" Applejack stepped up, "we study together, of course, our reports look similar!" "No," Twilight interjected. "They are identical. Sadly, this means that Rainbow Dash will not be able to perform the Junior festival because she did not pass Sophomore English." Twilight stated. Ms.Coltura scowled. "Would you two wait outside a moment?" Applejack and Rainbow Dash exited. "That girl can dance," Coltura stated. "She can." Twilight began. "But she can't because she didn't pass my class." "But-" "This school is an academic school just as much as it is a performing arts school. Everyone told me as a filly to put my faith in books. Artists are just ponies." "Artists are not just ponies," Coltura exclaimed. "Artists are passionate dreamers! Artists follow and lead the world! Artists are visionaries!" The two scowled at each other until Twilight sighed. "Fine. I'll make a deal." "I'm listening," Coltura said. "If Dash can pass Sophomore English in summer school, she can perform at your junior festival." "Deal. Dash!" Coltura called. Rainbow Dash trotted in. "Follow Twilight." Twilight escorted Rainbow out of the studio.
Junior Year"Spike I just can't do this anymore!" Rarity cried. Rarity had run into Spike in the band wing after a run in with Mr.Sunburst. "Rarity it's okay," Spike reassured her. "No! No, it isn't okay! He doesn't understand." "I don't know Rarity, he kind of does." "What?!" Rarity cried. "I mean," Spike gulped, "he is right just right about this. You need to discover yourself. You keep hiding behind your roles so that you don't have to be you." "You're starting to sound like one of them!" Rarity screeched. "Maybe that's what you need!" Spike blurted. "ah-" Rarity spluttered. She regained composure. "I just want to be famous okay? I just want to get up there!" She cried. "But Rarity, it doesn't work that way! You have to work to your goals. Fame isn't just served to you on a silver platter!" Spike countered. "Easy for you to say!" Rarity huffed. "Your parents are already famous! All you need is an agent and you're on the top ten list!" "No," Spike said sadly. "Everyone in my family is a perfectionist. Nothing I do is ever good enough." Spike's ears flattened and he looked at the ground. "Spike," Rarity began, her voice quiet. "What you do is good enough for me," she said. Spike looked up at her "I'm sorry." "It's what I needed to hear," Rarity smiled. "From now on," Spike started. "Let's be a team." "No more fighting." Rarity confirmed. "I've got it." "And I've got you!" Spike added with a wink. The two embraced just as the bell rang. Then, with frantic looks on their faces, they scurried off to class. Lyra and Bon-Bon skidded down the hallway together to get to the band room. Since Spike was busy writing with Rarity, the two had decided to arrange a simple piano duet for the junior festival. The two collapsed in laughter in front of the piano. As they pulled themselves onto the bench, a simple melody came to Bon-Bon. Placing her hooves on the upper part of the keys, she began to play. After a moment, Lyra joined in on the bottom notes and their tones blended perfectly. At one point, their hooves both reached for middle C. This sent a great smile through both of them. "Places everyone!" Coltura cried. "Where is Rarity?" Juniors paced excitedly as the teachers assembled them for their first junior festival dress rehearsal. Dancers were decked out in beautiful black topped dresses that puffed out into puffy tulle tutus of pinks and yellows. Actors were donned in the costumes for their play short. The rest of the music students had different outfits on their hooves for their different acts. An electric energy buzzed through the backstage area as the house lights dimmed. Then, Rarity rushed in. She fluffed her skirt and smiled at Coltura who scowled back. Over the next two hours, scenes changed, colors flashed, lights shone, voices sounded through the school, and hooves whirled in rhythm. "Wonderful!" Ms.Coltura called out at the end. "Come back tomorrow for final dress." Rainbow Dash slunk out of the auditorium and into Twilight Sparkle. "Ms.Twilight-" Rainbow started. "Ms.Rainbow," Twilight began. "I am very proud that you passed Sophomore English over summer school and the past few weeks." Then, she flashed Rainbow Dash her first ever smile. Fluttershy was rushing to the front of the school when she literally ran into Starlight Glimmer. "Oh!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "I'm so sorry Starlight! I was going to see the cast list for Romeo and Juliet!" "Oh." Starlight said with a happy sadness to her voice. "I saw the list already and I wanted to find you." Starlight cleared her throat. "You're Juliet." Fluttershy's insides lit up with happiness as she opened her wings and spun around in the air. She took Starlight's lilac hoof in hers. "With your natural acting abilities we'll-" But Starlight cut her off. "I'm Mercutio." She said simply. Fluttershy's face fell. "Then, who's Romeo?" She asked desperately. Just then, an outraged Cheese Sandwich stormed in. "ROMEO? How am I supposed to be THIS guy?" He stormed out. Fluttershy's jaw hit the floor. Maybe this love scene was too much for her. "It's okay." Starlight whispered. Fluttershy looked up at her. "I'm sorry." She added, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm sorry for how I treated you about my headshot I-," her face fell. "I still want to be your scene partner. But Cheese is now so-" "No," Fluttershy said. "Cheese may be my lover on stage, but you and I should still be friends off stage." She ended with a smile. Starlight's eyes caught hers and they were filled with true happiness. Maybe a friendship is better than love Fluttershy thought to herself. "Rarity. Please listen to me." Mr.Sunburst trotted up to Rarity as she shoved the contents of her locker into a giant silver tote. "You can't do this." "Look Mr.Sunburst," Rarity said. "I want to be famous! Three years of self-reflection has gotten me nowhere! I need to move on now Mr.Sunburst!" "Ms.Rarity, the only reason that you have spent your last three years at Canterolt P.A. reflecting, is because you can't find yourself! If you just tapped into who you are, you could get to what you think is further!" Rarity snorted. "Fine then," Sunburst said. "I know I can't stop you from leaving. But let me tell you, leaving would be the greatest mistake of your life." Rarity paused as Sunburst's words sunk in. She bowed her head and waited for his footsteps to fade down the hallway. "So you're leaving." A familiar voice sounded. "And I'm the last to know." Rarity turned. "Spike I-" "Rarity!" Spike cried. "I thought you had changed. I thought that we were enough!" Spike's eyes were welling up with tears. "Spike I just-" But she had no words. "Photo finish is going to make me what I've always wanted to be." "What?" Spike asked. "Another pretty face that no one will remember? 'Cause that's what you're going to be if you take this route." "Spike-" Spike's voice quieted. "I thought I was enough. I thought I had finally found a partner. But no. I guess fame really does things to ponies." "Fine!" Rarity sobbed. "Be that way! I'll-" But she had no way to defend herself. Her words turned to silent sobs as Spike ran off in tears. Fame did have a dark side. But she-didn't know what to think. "I can't do it anymore!" Pinkie screamed as she pounced on Applejack for her applesauce. "For Celestia's sake why can't this be easy?" "Pinkie Pie! I need my applesauce!" Applejack called. "You know what?" Pinkie said. "I give up! I can still dance, I can still sing. So why try to control this?" She gestured to her stomach. With that, she grabbed Applejack's applesauce and skipped out of the cafeteria. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called at the end of English class. "I believe I have figured it out." Rainbow Dash trotted to Twilight's desk, leaving Applejack waiting behind her. "Read this to me." Twilight handed Rainbow Dash a book called CANTERLOT P.A. GUIDE BOOK. A nervous sweat broke out all over Rainbow as she stuttered out the first sentence. "I knew it!" Twilight cried "You ARE dyslexic! Tell me Rainbow, what do you see on this page?" Rainbow gulped. "A blurry cloud of jumbled letters." Twilight smiled. "I'll let you go now, but if you work with me a little bit, I know I'll get you reading in no time!" With that, Rainbow trotted back over to Applejack. "You used me." Applejack said. "What?" "All those times I helped you with your homework! If you had just told me you couldn't read then we could've figured something else out!" Applejack began to storm out. "Applejack wait-" But it was no use.
Senior Year"Cheese Sandwich do you even hear yourself?" Mr.Sunburst was exasperated at this point. Over the past hour of play practice, Cheese hadn' progressed in his role and Starlight kept butting in. "I gave you this role for a challenge!" "Well, maybe it was too much of a challenge!" Cheese exclaimed. "Did you ever think that maybe I don't want to play Mr. star crossed lover boy?" "Maybe he didn't think if I wanted him to be my Mr.Star crossed lover either," Fluttershy muttered to Starlight. Sunburst put a hoof to his temple and groaned. "Who would I replace you with?" Sunburst moaned. "Anyone but me." Cheese said. Then, out of the blue, Starlight took Fluttershy's hoof and began to speak Romeo's line. Fluttershy followed with her response. The two circled each other, hoof in hoof and read through an entire scene in total perfection. "What about Starlight?" Cheese asked. "You know what?" Sunburst said. "I'm not even going to argue." "Wow!" Fluttershy said. "That was amazing!" "We'll blow the rest of P.A. out of the water with Romeo and Juliet for sure now!" With that, the two went back to the next scene with huge smiles in their hearts. "Applejack! You haven't talked to me all semester! What happened?" Rainbow Dash had been trying to pry words out of her all morning to no avail. "Look." Apple whirled around and scowled at Rainbow. "The apple blight has gotten to a small part of the orchard and our family is tryin' as hard as we possibly can to keep it there and get it out! All right?" She was screaming by the end of it. Rainbow knew that Applejack cared about her family and orchard more than anything else, but she couldn't help but feel rejected. "I'm sorry." Rainbow whispered. "I didn't want to make things worse for you." "Naw. You're fine." Applejack said with a small smile. "I can read now." Rainbow began. "Just one poem." Applejack snorted. "It's a start!" Rainbow protested. "It's just like I told you back when I first got here, you'll never get anywhere if you don't try." "But I am trying!" Rainbow cried. "I am." She whispered as Applejack walked away. Graduation day. The seniors buzzed with bitter happiness. They all donned black graduation robes and caps and waited for the curtain to rise on their future. At this point, the senior class all had at least temporary gigs that they could pursue until they found permanent slots in life. The teachers flitted around before taking their places on stage for their speeches. Then, after what seemed like hours of tear wrenching speeches, the students all came out and performed little snippets of what they had worked on during their time at CPA. Then, they all separated into groups by major. It was just like that first day of school when they were all buzzing with excitement and nervousness. But now, it was different. They had all been through so much together. They had formed and broken bonds. They had become one. After each of them had officially graduated, Spike walked up to the mic. "The song we are going to sing was written by a fellow student of ours. Rarity. Sadly, she left us and we-" Spike swallowed his tears. "She was a star and always will be. No matter what. Thank you so very much Rarity. Wherever you are." Standing outside the school. Parents were everywhere. Students were saying their goodbyes. Spike stood on his own leaning against a pillar. "SPIKE!" Lyra and Bon-Bon called and waved him over. After he walked over, they all shared a big group hug. "To the band!" Spike called, raising his hand in the air. "To the band!" Two other hooves hit his palm. And even though he didn't have Rarity, he still had fulfilled his dreams. "Applejack." A timid pegasus approached her. "Rainbow. I'm sorry." And that was all that needed to be said. "Can we just stay friends?" Rainbow whispered through tears. "Yes. Yes, we can." Applejack responded with a smile. "Starlight?" Fluttershy asked. "Yeah?" "No matter what-" She but her lip. "No matter what, can we still be partners?" "Forever and ever." Starlight confirmed. That's when they all knew taht even thoguh they may have lost so much in those four years, the friendships that they gained were entirely worth it.
