Sky Strings sat alone in the concert hall side entrance, focused; his last performance in the competition was nearly upon him. As a rule, Sky never really showed himself as the nervous type, but he definitely was. Despite this rule, he nervously fidgeted with his dark brown mane.

What if I screw up? he thought to himself. I'd never be able to forgive myself. These are the finals! I have to be perfect!

In that instant, he heard the door to backstage open. "Mr. Sky Strings?" said the concert hall employee. "You're up next, Ms. Melody is about to finish."

Sky nodded his head, getting up on all four hooves. His nerves began to swell, making him shake.

Deep breaths, Sky...

The door opened again, making him jump, but this time a gray mare walked through confidently. She wore a bow-tie, like him, except hers was pink. She wore an air of confidence, flicking her mane to the side as she walked down the hall toward him. He recognized her instantly, for she had taken lessons at the same time he did, with the same instructor. She smiled at him, her pretty purple eyes shining with true happiness.

"H-how did it g-g-go, Octavia?" stammered Sky, his nerves overcoming his ability to speak clearly.

"Goodness, I feel it went spectacularly!" exclaimed Octavia, her sultry voice dripping with joy. "I can only hope that your solo goes just as well! What did you choose for yours again?"

Sky began to reply, but the employee came out once again. "Mr. Strings, you're up!"

Sky's nerves swelled immensely for an instant, then it seemed to die down. He took a deep breath, his shaking ceased, and he stood up a bit straighter. "I'll show rather than tell, Octavia," he said, jokingly. "Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, would I?" He strolled off toward the door with robotic like movements. He was obviously still nervous.

Octavia looked at him puzzledly. He had told her once before, she had just forgotten in the heat of the moment.

"What surprise?" she asked, to nopony in particular.

Sky Strings got backstage and immediately his knees nearly buckled. He tore down his own air of false confidence and slowly made his way to his double bass, his head pointed to the floor. Deep breaths, Sky... he thought once again, attempting to actually calm himself. You can do this. Just play it how you always have. He picked up his bass and walked out from behind backstage. His accompanist, Midnight Measure, was already sitting at the piano, and she smiled at him. The mare was about his age, a wonderful pianist, and quite pretty to top it all off. He smiled back, and his nerves began to melt away.

"You ready, Sky?" she asked him quietly.

"You bet, let's get this show on the road." he replied, standing his bass on the end peg. He stood with it, bow at the ready, and nodded to the announcer in the lights booth.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts, please welcome our penultimate finalist to the stage. I present to you, Sky Strings, performing In the Hall of the Mountain King!"

Sky looked back at his accompanist during the applause. She nodded to him, and he nodded back. He turned back to the audience, closed his eyes, and once the audience quieted, he began to play. A soft concert F# rung out across the concert hall, pulling everyone's attention to the stage. The piece began slowly, and though it was quite repetitive, the audience remained captivated by the sheer mysterious nature of the piece. This particular arrangement was sparse, but it sounded just as mysterious as the original full orchestra. Sky played on, moving his nervous energy through his bow and out into the audience.

When he finished the piece with a flourish of his bow, the audience sat for a moment, stunned by the speed and precision of which he played. They then applauded, one by one, and slowly gave him a standing ovation. Through the sweat and heavy breathing, Sky looked back up to the audience, smiled, and turned to Midnight.

"We sure gave it hell, didn't we Sky?" she said.

"We sure did," he replied, then beckoning her toward him. "Let's bow?"

Midnight stood up from the piano, beaming. She trotted over to him, they stood side by side, and gave a deep bow. Smiling, they left the stage. As soon as they got through the door to the side hall, Sky tumbled forward. Midnight let out a giggle. The final soloist of the competition sauntered past them, snorting.

"Nice one," she joked to him. "And for your next act, you should play your bass as you do that."

"Very funny," Sky said, his nose buried in the tile floor.

They heard hoofbeats coming toward them at a fast pace. Sky looked up to see Octavia Melody running toward them with a smile on her face. She seemed extremely excited.

"That was amazing, Sky!" she exclaimed. She picked him up from the floor and gave him a huge hug. Midnight, however, audibly huffed angrily behind them. Sky barely had the breath to reply a small "thank you" from inside her bear hug. When she finally let go, Sky gasped for air. Octavia then turned her attention to Midnight. "You did exceptionally well also, Midnight." she said, smiling.

"Thanks," Midnight replied, begrudgingly not looking at Octavia.

There was silence for a moment, and Sky sensed the tension between the two. He awkwardly coughed once he caught his breath, and stood up.

"I suppose some celebratory dinner is in order, don't you think, Midnight?" he sheepishly said, attempting to soften the near-tangible air around them. Midnight shook her head and looked at him.

"I suppose you're right," she stated, matter-of-factly. She looked at Octavia. "Sorry, I have to drag his sorry ass around town to find a good diner to eat at. If you'll excuse-"

"Mind if I come along?" Octavia interrupted with a grin with malicious undertones. "I'm absolutely starving, I could use a bite to eat."

Midnight gritted her teeth, becoming quickly and increasingly annoyed with Octavia's behavior. "No, I think Sky and I need to talk a little bit, we have to plan our next move before the results are announced." She turned to Sky, squinting at him. "Right Sky?"

Sky recoiled under her steely gaze. "R-right," he stammered, "we have to plan our next piece for our next competition."

"How unfortunate," Octavia sighed. She turned around slowly, her eyes moving from Midnight, to Sky, then to the other end of the hallway. "I'll see you both at the symphony recital on Wednesday then?"

"I suppose you will," Midnight replied.

"Bye Octavia," said Sky. He watched her walk down the hallway and disappear. He then turned to Midnight.

"Everything alright?"

"Just fine." She wouldn't look at him. "Let's go get food, I'm starving."

Author's Note

Finally getting back into the swing of writing... how's it looking? Comments, criticism, and all of the like are welcome and encouraged!