You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound. A dimension of sight. A dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You have just crossed over into… The Twilight Zone.
“Stop! Stop!”
Before the stallion could do or any other word, he froze. In the blinding spotlight against a brick wall, he could barely see a table where the shadows of three, very important ponies sat behind it. Two of them were the director and co-director, and the third being the writer of the movie he was auditioning. Clearing his throat, the stallion named Silver Screen asked, “Did I do something wrong?”
The trio of ponies looked at one another.
“Look…” the pony in the middle, the director sighed, “Don’t get me wrong here. Personally, I don’t think you’re that bad of an actor. Really. It’s clear that you could keep consistent and don’t come off as fake.”
“But?” Silver asked.
“The thing is…” The pony on the right, the writer said. “I think I can speak for all of us that while it’s clear that you’re good… it’s not what we’re looking for. For starters, you don’t resemble much of any of the main characters for this movie that we’re trying to find. Like, take the main role, for example. He's supposed to be a muscular brown earth pony. You on the other hoof are a thin stallion, gray and a unicorn. I mean sure, there’re ways to get around that, but even then, looks aren’t the major factor here.”
“So what is?”
A sigh escaped from the pony on the left. “I’m not gonna sugar coat this kid… It’s your voice. While it’s not annoying, the one we have in mind is more baritone. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s clear to us that you’re not that bad of an actor, we’re just trying to get it to fit with the action film that we’re trying to make. We have nothing against you, it’s just… you’re not what we’re looking for.”
“Oh…” Silver Screen’s ears folded against the back of his head.
“But hey, it was a good attempt.” The director told him. “Maybe you’ll fit better with some other project.”
With a nod, Silver thanked them for their time and walked out of the casting studio. Once he passed through the door where a line of actors and actresses were waiting for their turn, he ran into a smiling pony.
“Hey there!” he greeted him. “So how did it go? Did you get anything?” Silver shook his head. That smile evaporated into concern. “What happened?”
“They said that they weren’t what they were looking for.” He sighed, slouching up against the studio wall. “They told me I have talent, but not what they’re looking for.”
“Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that.” He patted him on the back.
Silver waved a hoof. “I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised Spot. I’m just not needed is all.” He looked up to him. “But enough about me, so did you get lucky again, Mr. Spotlight?”
“Actually yeah!” He nodded. “They told me that they’re strongly considering me to take up the leading role! I’m actually excited to tell you the truth, I’ve never done an action/adventure movie be…” He paused as he noticed that this news was making him look defeated. “Look, Silver, we’ve been friends since we were kids. And you know that when I started out, I had a rough time too. It’s not easy to get your hoof in, most of the time it takes a while to just get noticed. But I think that you have to be determined and, sooner or later, you’ll get something.”
“You don’t understand…” Silver shook his head. “Dad is counting on me to find some work soon. And this audition was my last hope of maybe earning those bits while doing something I wanted to do. So what am I going to tell him when I get home that I didn’t so much as get a role for a background character?”
Spotlight opened his mouth, but at first, nothing came out. With a defeated sigh, he confessed. “Well… You got me. But maybe once I do get the role, I could probably pull some strings with the director to let you into the movie somehow. Maybe as a catering guy or-”
“No. I’m an actor like you, I should be in a place to do just that. Not being a waiter, bus-colt, or a pencil pusher. If I’m gonna be working, it might as well be doing something that I love to do.”
“But life doesn’t work like that. Sometimes you’ve just gotta do with what you’re given.”
With a frustrated sigh, Silver got up and told his friend goodbye before he left. He walked out of the gate for Pony Artists Studios, and in shame, walked down the sidewalk of Applewood Boulevard. His head down as the names of actors, directors, musicians, and comedians that were immortalized in stars had passed him by. There was a part of him that daydreams of seeing his name in one of those stars. Where fans would come far and near to where he himself had been, to compare their hooves to the imprints that forever remained in the concrete. Looking up, however, he walked down several blocks towards downtown Applewood towards an apartment complex of his father’s. Sooner than he’d hoped, he reached the door and stepped right in.
As expected, his father was sitting at the kitchen table playing bridge. An old stallion, a bronze pegasus that was a veteran in Applewood with all the metals to show it. Behind him on a wall was not the memorabilia of the Royal Guard, but of the posters, awards, and trophies that he had won as a producer. When the front door opened, the stallion looked up from his card game, adjusting his glasses.
“You were out for a long time. So how did auditions go?”
“Um…” Silver Screen pawed at the ground.
His father frowned. “No luck again.”
“They said that I have the talent and-”
“That’s what they all say.” The elderly stallion got up from behind the table. “Son, it’s not that I don’t see that you’re trying, but it’s been over a year now.”
“I know dad.” Silver walked up to the kitchen table. “But everywhere I go, nopony is taking me. I’ve gone to local theaters, radio producers, and now even the movies don’t want me. They all say that it’s best that I try at someplace else. Only I have!”
“Believe me, I know. But at this rate, I don’t know how long I can support you if don’t have the means to support yourself. For Celestia’s sake, you don’t have to go into the entertainment industry. There are other places in Applewood that have perfectly good jobs.”
“Dad, we’ve talked about this.”
“And I’m saying this again! You can’t just pick and choose at whatever job you want. That’s not how life works. You apply at places that at times you don’t want to do, but you still do it anyway if it means putting food on the table or paying rent.”
“Is that why you haven’t retired yet?”
His father didn’t say anything as he sat back down. “The truth is I’m lucky. I wanted to be some part of the movie business and I got it. Through sheer luck and hard work. Of course, I’ve never once appeared in any motion picture, but at least I got the chance to make them. I may be old enough to retire, but what can I say, I still love doing it. Sure I’m successful, but that’s because I was invited to success. However, that doesn’t mean that the pay I get could support us forever. One of these days something will happen and… I won’t be around forever. You’ve got to support yourself by whatever opportunity offers you.”
Before his son could reply, a knock was heard on the door. His father told him to go answer that and does so. Behind the door was a young, serious looking mare with glasses and a notepad. “Hello, is Mr. Camera Action here?”
“Come in, Focus Frame. So what’s our task this time?” Silver’s father called out.
The mare pushed through the entrance and immediately went towards the old stallion. “I’m gonna need your help on this. The director for that new Action/Adventure movie is wanting us to help piece the film together.”
“What’s the setting?”
Focus flipped open her notebook, “Modern day Saddle Arabia. There’s a couple of scenes but the big one will be at the bazaar where it’s all on a sound studio. The set is being built as we speak, but it needs props. Got any ideas?”
Camera thought about it for a moment. “Colorful carpets, baskets, pots, spices, food, silks, brass lamps, glass… You know what?” He suddenly stood up. “How about you two come with me? I know an antique shop that’s not too far from here, we’ll pitch some ideas along the way. Focus, how big of a budget do we have?”
“Quarter of a million.”
“Great! Now come along.”
“Why do I have to go?” Silver questioned.
“It would at least give you something to do other than moping about. Now c’ mon!”
Portrait of a stallion whose dreams are as big and grand as the city he lives in. The local of Applewood wants to have his name be up in lights. His face on every screen of every movie theater. But in this city of dreams, his is the one that’s not coming true. Although Camera Action was right that he would need an invitation to achievement, each day proves that getting it is becoming more impossible to earn. But in just a moment, Silver Screen is about to get that invitation from an unexpected source. One that’s being sent and delivered - from the Twilight Zone.
In Applewood, there are more prop shops, antique stores, craft and furniture shops per capita than any other in Equestria. In this city, one of the biggest when it comes to the buying and selling of antiques is the Old Timer’s, the go-to for Camera Action. “So I think to save time, we’ll split up.” The three of them entered through the door of the store where rows upon rows, floors upon floors of objects that weren’t unique enough to be placed in a museum. “I’ll look through the first floor, Focus you take the second, son, the third. Look for anything that can fit with Saddle Arabia. We’ll meet at the counter in an hour. Understood? Good. Now let’s start.”
Silver Screen, obeying his father, climbed up the stairs up to the top floor of the shop. As far as he could see, rows upon rows of shelves of glass, silverware, small brass, and copper objects line the entire length of the entire floor.
As the stallion went through one row of shelves to another, his thoughts replayed the disastrous audition. ‘There’s gotta be some way to catch my big break. Something to let what I got to flourish in this town. I have the skill and the experience to make it. So what’s missing?’ He scanned through the row that had all sort of brass items from cooking tools to dusty status. ‘Maybe… Maybe I just got to uh… network a little. Try to get those who are in the business to let me in. I mean, Spotlight said that he’s willing to pull some strings. Maybe if I… hello…’
One item caught his eye. It was small and covered in dust. It seemed unremarkable that he might have easily missed it without knowing. However, the little oil lamp did fit into the very look of what might have come out of Saddle Arabia, despite it being browned by time.
Lighting up his horn, he levitated the lamp over to him. “I’m sure dad would probably want this…” he muttered. “It’s ancient but kinda decorative enough. But why is this thing covered in dust? Shouldn’t the owners have clean stuff like this?” Lifting a hoof, he started to dust off the top of it when out of the mouth of the lamp, smoke streamed out of it. In shock, Silver dropped the lamp as it continued to spew out more and more smoke that swirled, twisted, formed and finally settled. On top of all this, he heard… laughter.
“I’m free! I’m free!” He heard somepony cried out in pure joy. The voice, strangely enough, was coming from the smoke itself. It shifted and some parts of it… solidified. There was a bald head, a face, a neck, and a torso. But the legs and tail, however, still shifted, puffed and withered like smoke. The thing before him grinned happily. “Oh, at last, it has finally happened! Praise the Gods I am finally free!”
“Uh…”
“Oh!” The smoky creature giggled. “Where are my manors gone to? It is you that released me from my prison, yes?”
“What?”
“The lamp! You rubbed the lamp, didn’t you?”
“Well… yes?”
“Ah! I am so grateful!” The apparition reached out and shook his hoof. “You have done such a merciful act, I thank you!”
“You’re… welcome? I’m sorry, I’m confused, who are you?”
“What else?” He laughed. “I am the Genie of the Lamp, of course! Oh, I cannot express enough how happy I am!”
Silver blinked. “Genie?” He nodded. “As in… a guy that grants wishes and stuff?”
“Oh yes, I can grant wishes, but I could do so much more.” He wrapped a foreleg around him. “You, noble sir, are in tremendous luck as I was beginning to lose my patience in there. Why, when I was first trapped there, I said to myself that if some soul were to release me, I would grant him a million wishes. But then nopony came for a thousand years so I said to myself, alright, I will grant him a thousand wishes. And still, none came. So then I said to myself, maybe I’ll stick with a hundred. But when I still remained for the previous ninety-seven years, I decided I’ll stick with three. To tell you the truth if I stayed any longer, I might have given the one the privilege of the exact nature of he wishes to die.”
Silver immediately took a step back. “You were planning to kill someone?”
“Well not anymore!” He laughed. “Still, for you an offering of my gratitude, I shall grant you three wishes.”
The unicorn blinked. “No… No this is just a hallucination. Yeah, that’s it. My mind has finally snapped after the crappy day I’m having.”
“Oh?” The Genie floated above him. “Even if I’m not real, I’m interested to hear your troubles. What ills you?”
Reasoning to himself that it wouldn’t hurt to vent his frustrations on something that isn’t real, Silver turned around, walking towards a window.
“I don’t expect something like you to understand but… growing up here in Applewood, a place where dreams are created on the silver screen every day, I’ve always wanted to be a part of that. All I’ve wanted in my life is to have my name be remembered as one of the greats that have been immortalized in movie history. I’ve trained in acting schools and theaters just so I can climb my way to become as famous and memorable as those that came before me.”
“Ahh, it is fame that you seek.”
“Oh, more than that! If I had my way… I’d become an actor that every director in Applewood would want for their films. One with a good enough income to finally make my dad proud. To make my friends be impressed and attract fans from all over. But…” He shook his head. “It’s impossible. As much as I wish to be remembered as the greatest actor this town has ever seen, I don’t it’s gonna happen.”
This perked the genie’s ears. “Is that… a wish?”
Silver shrugged. “I guess… if you’re real, I would wish that I would get the leading role of a movie so that I can become one of the great stars of Applewood.”
An excited giggle was heard from the smoky genie. “Are you sure, oh master, that this is what you want?”
“More than anything… if only it would come true.”
“So you wish it,” said the genie as he raised his forehooves in the air, “so shall it be!” He clapped his hooves together in which Silver felt something… indescribably powerful rushed by him like a wave.
“W-What did you do?”
The genie laughed. “Your first wish has been granted! For now, I must return to my lamp as doing such things can be quite tiring. But don’t you worry, if you need me again, all you have to do, is rub my lamp and I shall appear. Until then, farewell, master.” Like that, the creature turned into smoke and was sucked back into the brass lamp on the floor.
Silver poked at the lamp a few times. Confirming that nothing was happening, he picked it up, along with a few other things so that his dad and Focus Frame could buy.
A few days later and Silver Screen was beginning to forget about the strange interaction with the genie. For a while, he subscribed what had happened as just that, a hallucination that was brought about by tremendous stress. He continued to audition but once again, nopony wanted him - much to the annoyance of his father. Silver had forgotten about the wish he made back at the antique shop. That was, until one morning.
It began at breakfast when there was a knock on the door. Camera walked away from the stove to peer through the peephole. His eyes widen. “Why are the cops here?”
“Huh?” His son asked but his father had already opened the door.
Behind the front door, two police officers stood there waiting. There was a sense of dread, but Camera cleared his throat, getting their attention. “Good morning, is something the matter, officers?”
“Which one of you is Silver Screen?” the first officer asked.
Silver was taken aback by this. “That’ll be me but, what did I do?”
“Don’t worry, we’re not here to arrest you.” Said the second. “Rather we’re here to tell you something.”
“It’ll only take a minute, sir.” The first one told him. Silver and Camera looked at each other, but the son got up and went to the door, walking outside. Closing the door behind him he asked if there was a problem. “On your part, no. However, something has happened that you need to be aware of.”
“Do you know the pony named Spotlight?” The second officer asked.
“Well yeah, he’s my best friend. Why?”
Both of the police officers sighed.
“I’m sorry to tell you this.” The first answered. “Your uh… friend has passed away this morning.”
“What!”
“Heart attack.” The second clarified. “He passed away in his home. When he didn’t show up to work we were sent over and… Well, we found a list of contacts and we thought that we should go over to let them, including you know about it. We’re sorry.”
Silver’s mind shut down for a while, although he heard the officers condolences and that the funeral will be held very soon, he was someplace else. Even when he finally walked back into the apartment, his father could see how pale his son was.
“Son, what happened? What’s wrong?”
The unicorn sat down at the dining table. “They said… Spotlight had a heart attack this morning… he didn’t…” Words were choked up as tears formed in his eyes. His breath caught up to him in sobs. And his father rushing over to comfort his son, stricken by grief.
For the next several days, Silver was in limbo between feeling nothing and being blinded by tears. The funeral for Spotlight was held about a week later, with him standing in front of his best friend’s coffin. Deaf to the “I’m so sorry,” and “He’s in a better place,” his focus was on the corpse. He was somewhere between disbelief and being slapped hard by reality.
“I thought I’d find you here.” Silver looked up to the one that was speaking to him. He instantly recognized him as the director that he auditioned for about a few weeks ago. “Ya know, this hit hards to me, but probably more so on your end.” He shook his head, looking down at the pony in the coffin. “Star was quite a good actor, and easy to work with. He was in a few of my pictures in the past and was always fun to have him around.”
“Yeah… he was like that.” Silver said, his voice seems distant.
“Look…” the director patted him on the back. “I know this is a shock. To be honest, none of us seen this coming. I mean, on my end, we've just started production and now we’re left without a star. All of us are in an awkward position.”
“Why are you here?”
He nodded. “Ah, I’ll get straight to the point. With him gone, I’ve been thinking back to the auditions we’ve held. Of course, he was at the very top of the list, but now that he’s… not around… I’d figured that it might be best to fall back on the pony that could step up for the leading role in my film. I came here to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Well… would you be interested in taking up the lead role for my movie?”
Silver’s eyes went wide, staring at the director. “What?”
“Hey, I know given the circumstance that this might seem as too soon, but given how things are… we really need a backup. Yeah, I know what we’ve said to you but we can accommodate you. Even pay you pretty well, but I can’t force you into it. I’ll let you think it over for a while. But I’d prefer you to give me your answer soon as we have some things to scramble up for and fast. All I ask is just think about it, okay?”
Dumbly, the stallion nodded. After the director went away, his memory was resurrected, of that day in the antique shop with the genie. He wanted to be in a leading role, to be a star. And now, he realizes that the opportunity has happened.
All it cost, was the life of his best friend.
His wish had killed him.
It was enough for him to leave the funeral before it could be finished. Guilt grew at the thought that he might have been responsible for it. That dark feeling compelled him to go straight home to curl up into a ball until his father came back. Camera found his son in his room in the dark and sat down next to him.
“Do you need anything?” his father asked.
“It’s… It’s all my fault…”
“No, don’t say that.” He drew his son into a hug. “You had nothing to do with it.”
“But-”
“You can’t cause heart attacks. These things… they just happen. Ya know? You can’t control a pony’s health when they didn’t know that they had something wrong with them before it’s too late.” He hugged him again. “Now I’ve brought home some soup from that place you like.”
“Something happened at the funeral.” Silver said, distant. “Something… unexpected.”
“What?”
“The director that Spot began working for… he offered me a job - as the leading role.”
“You’re kidding!”
Silver shook his head. “He told me to think about it… but I don’t feel right about-”
“Son.” His father said, getting him to look up at him. “You listen to me. I’ve lived in this town long enough that it’s a dog-eat-dog world. When something like this happens, you have to take it. I know that you feel that you might be taking your friend’s place, but let’s face it, knowing him, this probably what he would have wanted. To give you a shot at the spotlight and now, you’ve got it. All you have to do is step up.”
“But so soon?”
“Hey, if you don’t somepony else will. Stuff like this doesn’t happen often. Besides, being in a leading role should be a good opportunity for you to start earning something. It should be enough to tie you over until the next gig. I know you have it in you to be a good actor, now’s the time to show that you can become a great one.”
After thinking about what his father said, he sat up. “Alright… I’ll go in tomorrow and tell him that I’ll take it.”
Camera hugged him once more. “That’s my boy! I’m so proud of you.”
Silver hugged back, his spirits lifted at the praise he wanted to hear.
“Cut!” the director called out. “We got it!”
Silver sighed in relief, wiping the sweat off of his brow. Finally, he was able to walk off the soundstage of a Saddle Arabian marketplace with the “artifact” in hoof. The months seem to fly on past him as he got engaged with both the character and the story of the movie. So far, he had very little to complain about as the lines were well written out, the action was fast but exciting (even with the stunt double), and even the other actors were just as passionate in this film as he was. Even the director, he found, was pretty good at what he was doing. He treated him well, gave him clear directions and rarely lost his temper.
All in all, things were going pretty well.
Silver sat down on a prop rock when a water bottle was given to him. The director came up to him while he uncorked it.
“You did better than I’d hoped.” He told him.
“Not bad being my first movie.”
“Hey, we all have to start out from somewhere, and so far you’re a natural at this. We have one more scene to shoot on another soundstage but we should be able to get it done before everyone goes home.”
“That’s good to hear. That last scene nearly took a lot out of me.”
“You and me both.” He nodded. “While we got a minute, how’s the old stallion?”
“Dad’s just doing what he’s always done, trying to set all this up before we shoot.”
“Yeah, that sounds…” Silver raised an eyebrow when the director trailed off, noticing his gaze was at something else. The unicorn looked over and noticed a serious looking mare in a suit was entering into the soundstage. “Oh crap.”
“What? What is it?”
“Uh… nevermind that, I’ll take care of this.” The director suddenly left and went over to the mare. Although they were out of earshot, Silver could tell that he was to a degree fearful of this pony in the suit. Curious, Silver followed them as they walked out of the soundstage and into the sunlight. He stayed in the darkness but listened in to their conversation.
“.... no more.”
“But you can’t do this to us,” the director pleaded. “We’re about two-thirds way through. We’re so close.”
He heard the mare sighed. “I know. But given what’s going on in the economy and that the studio is trying to be careful with the money that it still has… We just have to shut down some projects so that we can stay afloat.”
“.... Ma’am, do you have any idea how tight our budget for this picture is for us?”
“I already know. And I can tell that we have to let this go before the rest of the studio goes under. It’s this movie or this movie plot goes bust. I know you guys are working hard, but given how things are… there’s not much that even I can do.”
It didn’t take long to let this sink in for Silver. He knew perfectly well what this meant. The movie that he and so many others have been working so hard on was running out of money to continue. No money, no movie and therefore, no job. His only shot to becoming a star was falling right out of the sky.
‘Celestia, no!’ He thought as he retreated from the dread-filled conversation. ‘They can’t cancel us now. We’re so close! My future is just at my hooftips and it’s slipping away! What am I going to do!? What am I... Where did that come from?’
He paused. In his silent mental panic, he almost failed to notice that in on a table in the spotlight, was the very lamp that he encountered in the antique shop all those months ago. Like it was waiting patiently for him. He looked around the soundstage but he noticed that there weren’t many ponies around to indicate who put it there.
Although he approached it, memories played back to the cost of his first wish. Of what this thing was capable of. Sure it gave him what he always dreamt about, but at the same time, he knew that it was soaked in blood for the price of this position. For a moment, he hesitated, there was a part of him that didn’t want to summon the genie again. But, with all that was at stake, of not just losing his job, but his dad’s pride… he reached out and gave it a rub.
Like before, smoke spews out, it whisked and formed into the shape of a pony.
“Great day to you, master!” the genie greeted with a smile, “How may I…” He noticed worry that was on Silver’s face. “Why master, whatever is the matter? Did your first wish not come true?”
“Oh, it did alright… It only cost my best friend.”
“Ah, I’m very sorry to hear that, master. Very much indeed.” The smoke-like pony shook his head. “But it had to be done, for that’s the way my wishes work.”
This alarmed the stallion. “What are you talking about!?”
“You are a unicorn, one that knows that magic itself follows a strict set of rules, no?” He nodded. “It is the same with the magic of wishes. Although I can grant them easily, all wishes, in order to be fulfilled, you must give up something to balance out for compensation. For example, if one pony wished to have all the riches in the world, then the entire world, except for him shall go about as poor as long as he lives. Or if one were to wish for power, they shall get it, but at the price that those who are more capable of the job will have to lose theirs. Your last wish was no different. In order for you to be guaranteed to become famous, you would have to replace someone who is just about to become just that.”
“You didn’t warn me of any of this!”
“Alas, that fault was on me.” The genie lowered his head in shame, “I was kept in that lamp for so long that I got too excited to the point that I overlooked to tell you that. A thousand apologies, master.”
Silver let out a frustrated sigh.
“So once again, what troubles you, master?”
“It’s just… We’re so close now. All of us have been working our flanks off to make this movie, and now I just heard that the bits to fund this is running out. Do you know what that means? That means that unless something happens, we’re all out of the job, and my only shot to fame would have been completely pointless! The thing is, I don’t know what to do unless…”
The genie raised an eyebrow. “Unless…?”
Silver Screen paused for a moment, hesitantly. “Let’s pretend for a moment,” he said, “that I wished for this movie to keep going until it’s done - what would be the consequence for my wish?”
The pony made out of smoke tapped his chin. “That depends. I would suppose that some shrew planning would be inspired. Maybe some more money to continue just enough until it’s done. Or maybe some of these ponies would lose their jobs.”
“Like… cutting out what’s not necessary?”
“If you like.” He nodded.
Silver hummed in thought. “I suppose that if that were to happen, it wouldn’t be so bad as at least nopony would get hurt. After all, they could always look for another job if they’re let go.”
“So…” The genie leaned forward. “Do you have a wish in mind, master?”
He nodded. “For my second wish,” he said, “I wish that we find the money for the budget. Oh! And maybe while you’re at it, could that include to possibly doubling my salary?”
“That can easily be done.” The genie nodded. “But are you sure that’s what you want?” Silver nodded, so the pony in smoke raised his hooves. “So you wish it, so shall it be!” He clapped his hooves together, and a wave of energy rushed out all around them. “Your wish has been granted, master.”
Silver sighed. “Thank you genie. I don’t know what to do without you.”
“Ah! But just remember, you have only one wish left. So I advise you to think extra careful with this.” He smiled. “In the meantime, I’ll be waiting.” And just like that, he dissolved and rushed back into the lamp.
Silver Screen found out at the end of the day, that apparently there was a compromise between the director and the budget accountant of Pony Artist’s Studios. The mare told the director that she’ll get him a loan that should help them finish the movie - but in exchange, they would have to let go several ponies so that only the absolutely essential were still working. That day, two-thirds of ponies that were working on the project got a pink slip while the main star got a pay raise that was double the amount than what he was originally getting.
The stallion went back to his father’s apartment very happy. With the paycheck in his aura, he practically skipped all the way home. He couldn’t wait to tell his father the fantastic news.
“Dad! You’re not gonna believe this!” He said as he happily danced through the front door. “The director has decided to…” He paused when he saw his father, slumped over the dining table like a sad sack of potatoes. Eyes were covered by hooves, trying and failing to hide the tears that were flowing down. And before him, Silver’s heart stopped - there was a pink slip. “Dad?”
“Thirty… five… years…” Camera Action said just above a whisper. “I never missed a day of work… I never complained… I never took an off day unless I was sick. I did everything I could so they could get what they needed. Thirty-five years of doing just that, and do I get? A note saying that… I’m fired. Because I’m not needed anymore.”
“Dad.”
He looked up, wiping the tears away. “Did they fire you too?”
“Um… not exactly. I actually got a raised.”
“What!” In shock, Camera Action slammed his hooves on the table, standing up. “They let go of someone that was the backbone of the studio - all this crap that it’s for economic reasons, and they still have enough dough to give you a raise?!”
“Dad, it’s okay. Look, with this amount I’m getting, it should be more than enough for me to move out. Heck, maybe it’s enough that you can come live with me for a change.”
“Son.” His father got up and walked around the table towards him. “You don’t understand. I’ve lost my job today. Lost of ponies have lost their jobs and… it isn’t right! This right here,” he grabbed the paycheck, “this isn’t fair at all! Even if the studio was about to go under, they clearly have enough bits here to keep a couple hundred or so working.”
“They can still get another job,” his son tried to rationalize.
“This has nothing to do about money!” Camera snapped. “This is about not being fair to ponies that have devoted their lives to the film industry. Literally! Son, you got to go back there and at least try to speak up. If not for those ponies that have to go back home to pay rent and put food on the table, then at least do it for me.”
For a moment, Silver almost wanted to. He almost wanted to turn back towards the studio to demand whoever is in charge of letting go so many just so they could put an extra coin into his paycheck. However… This was his wish. Even if he summoned the genie again to undo what he did, his dream would not come true. He would be back where he started. After all, his father was the same pony that told him that he has to do what he could to succeed - and now he’s being asked to go against that?
“Dad… I can’t.”
Camera Action’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“I can’t do this. Even if I did, my one chance to being a star would be crushed. I was told earlier that the movie we’re working on was running out of funds. If I did somehow undo all of this, it would cost me my job. I can’t lose what I got for yours, dad.”
There was a look on his father’s face. It was a mixture of sadness, betrayal, anger, and shock all rolled into one.
“Get… out.”
“Dad?”
“Get out of my house. If that’s how you’re gonna treat the pony that did everything for you, leave and don’t come back!”
“But-”
“Out!” He grabbed his son and dragged him toward the front door. Flinging him outside. “If I see you here again, I’ll call the police for trespassing.” With that, he slammed the door.
On his flank with nothing more than a paycheck, Silver was at first in shock by the time the locks on the front door were clicking. At the same time when he got up, his mind was clouded by rage.
“Fine!” He yelled out. “I’m on my own now! I’ll become the greatest movie star Applewood has ever seen and be remembered forever! I hope you got what you wanted, dad!” With a swift buck against the door, Silver Screen stormed off to cash in his check and finding a hotel room to stay in.
“That’s a wrap! We got it!” The director clapped his hooves. It had taken many more months and shew planning, but they did it! Although the project had only a third of the ponies that started working on this left, they pulled it all off against the odds. When the director called out that they were finished, there was celebratory applause from the actors and staff that they were finally finished.
On top of the constructed set of a sandy temple, Silver Screen took a bow with pride. He had done it! He carried out his role with precision and said all of his lines perfectly. It’s all to the editors now to piece the scenes together and in a matter of weeks, “The Star Gem” will be shown to movie theaters all over Equestria and beyond.
Climbing down the steps, he approached the smiling director. “I feel really confident about this movie!” He heard him say. “This was a lot of fun to make.”
“So was my performance good?” Silver asked.
“Kid, you were fantastic! In fact, tomorrow, we’re going to have a cast party at my home to celebrate all our hard work.”
“I’d love to come.” He smiled. “After all, this is a big moment for me, you know. That I finally have my dream of being a movie star come true.”
“Understandable… That is if it goes well.”
Silver looked at him confused. “What do you mean?”
“While we have overcome a lot already, our real test comes when the film is released to the public. Depending on their reaction and the armies of critics to win over, at the end of the day, it’s them to decide if the end result is good enough. Even with somepony as experienced as me, it’s always a gamble over if they like it or not. All we can do is hope for the best.”
“Ah… I see…”
The director patted him on the back. “I’m certain that it’ll pay off. But for now, go home and give yourself a well-deserved break.”
After the director walked off, and everypony else on the set were doing the same, Silver Screen looked around the studio, in particular in the prop’s department to find the lamp. It took him awhile but he found it tucked away in a corner with a tag on it.
He rubbed it and the genie came out.
“At last!” The creature made out of smoke smiled. “Have you finally thought up of your last wish?”
“I have. It took me a while to figure out what it should be until recently.”
“Oh? Is something wrong?”
Silver shook his head. “Oh no, not at all! If anything, things for once are going great! I finally moved out of my dad’s apartment and got myself a nice place to live. The director told me that I’ve done a really good job with the film. And the best part is that we’re able to finish it. Really, things are looking up.”
The genie raised an eyebrow. “Then why have you summoned me if things are going well?”
“Because I have one last wish to make as… insurance, as it were. Something that would guarantee my place in Applewood for the future. After all, I’m gambling it on the success of this movie. If it fails, I might never succeed as an actor at all. Which is why I’m asking you to grant me my final wish.”
“Let’s hear it!” The Genie said in anticipation. “What do you wish for?”
“I wish that that the movie I’m in, ‘The Star Gem’ will not only be well received but will go down in history as a classic. That it would be so well received by audience and critics that it would have a cult following. That it would be so successful that even when I’m gone, film students and future actors will look at this to learn its genius. I want my first film to be immortalized in the memory of Ponykind.”
The misty pony hummed in thought. “A tall order, but one that can be done. However, before I grant you this wish, do you want to consider the consequences of such a wish?”
“Why?” Silver Screen laughed. “I mean, worst case scenario, some other movie will go under. But hey, it’s something that I’ve learned that to get ahead, someone has to take the fall. So yes, whatever the price for this to make it come true, I’ll pay for it! So please, make it come true.”
Nodding, the genie raised his forehooves. “So you wish it, so shall it be!” His hooves clapped once more, releasing that wave of energy. But somehow… although Silver Screen couldn't explain it, there was something… off about this wave of magic. It felt like it did before, but this time, it felt… darker in a way. He didn’t know how or why it was, but for a moment, Silver felt that he might have made a major mistake.
Before he could think on it, the smoky genie was laughing happily. “My debt has been paid in full! The three wishes have been completed! Now I go free and no longer bound to the lamp!” With that, the brass lamp crumbled away until it was nothing more than dust. “I thank you, master. Your fortunes will be no longer like it was in the past, so with that, farewell!”
The genie dissolved into smoke in which like a possessed cloud floated out and into the twilight sky.
Silver Screen shrugged as he walked out of the props department. “Oh no, thank you, genie.”
The next night, one of the hills of Applewood was lit up by fireworks. A tradition among directors that as soon as a film was finished, they throw a party that started off with a firework display. Silver Screen, in a tuxedo suit, looked out of the taxi window with excitement. At last, not only is he going to a glamorous party that this town was known for, but he is invited there as the guest of honor. He spots among the spraying lines of fire of copper, purple, white and green the mansion of the director’s. Even from the road, he can see the lights and moving shadows of ponies that were watching the firework show.
‘I can’t wait to get up there!’ He thought to himself, watching the fireworks overhead. ‘I’ve finally made it to the place that dad can only tell stories about. And now I’m about to become apart of the Applewood elite with the best. Hopefully, I can network in some future projects so I can become even more successful. I wonder who will be there? I know it’s a cast party but who's to say that others won’t come to it? I hope that I get to meet the hottest mares there, maybe a couple of supermodels decided to come. Besides, with the movie guaranteed to be a success, I bet I could even score-’
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blunt crash through the window. Something hard and fast punched him to knock his daydreams out cold. Quickly he turned to find what hit him - it was a very large lit firework that was still spewing out sparks that were beginning to burn one side of the taxi. What horrified him, however, was that on the side of this potential bomb, were the printed words that were enough to make him let out a scream a second before it exploded.
Last Wish.
So fast was his death that he didn’t have time to react before the taxi lit up like a Romane candle.
Silver Screen’s funeral came a week later. Despite how well the morticians tried to clean up the body and make it look like he was in one piece, hardly anyone noticed the corpse. In front of his coffin, the press was there, but not taking pictures of him, rather at the ponies that blocked the coffin entirely.
Before the casket that was surrounded by white lilies and a stand that held up a picture of the deceased, Applewood’s elite was wailing - and not shedding a single tear in the process. They were producers, actors, and directors in black. None of them were looking at the body either, but to the attention, the press was giving them with their flashing cameras and tape recorders that held out to them.
“Question for Camera Action,” one of the reporters called out, “how has this tragedy affected you personally? Were you close to this rising star in the film industry?”
The father looked over his shoulder at his son’s face, but only for a moment. “Can’t say,” he said, “I never met him in my life.”
Another reporter asked the director if Silver’s death would reflect badly for the new film’s chances.
“Not at all,” he told them, “in my philosophy, there’s no such thing as bad press. His passing shouldn’t be a problem for the new film, rather I think it would encourage ticket sales.”
“At least he was a decent actor,” one of the cast members said, “I never expected he would go out like this.”
Throughout the wake, there were even more passive comments about Silver or more crying from the others. However, the reporters could tell that not a drop that could be seen was out of genuine sadness for the unicorn’s passing - it was all for show. Not that any of them bothered to care, the celebrities were there, putting up quite a performance.
Six months later, a crowd of reporters and fans were crammed in the thin space upon the thin space of sidewalk on Applewood Boulevard. The director, in a silky tuxedo, waved to the crowd, behind him, construction ponies waited for him to pull off a sheet that covered a particular square on its famous sidewalk.
A microphone was handed to him.
“Mares and Gentelcolts, I have a few words to say before we unveil the latest star. About a couple of months ago, ‘The Star Gem,’ has become a worldwide phenomenon where critics and audiences alike have declared it to be a modern masterpiece. While I am humbled by such an honor, it wouldn’t be possible without the tragic genius of its lead. Although we still mourn over his loss of what he could have been, we are grateful that he has given us a classic that will be remembered for ages to come.
“Tonight, on behalf of all of Applewood, we’re helping make a dream of his come true. Silver Screen always wanted to be remembered as one of the greats. He is lucky that his efforts have paid off, for now, he rests with those stars. And now, tonight we’re giving him the tremendous honor of placing his name not only in lights but on this street, we’re presenting on his behalf, his very own star!”
The sheet was pulled back and millions of flashes from a million cameras took to witness the reveal of a new star on this famous street. The name “Silver Screen,” written in gold lies there with roses being thrown at it. On the street, the gilded letters stood out like a grave marker among the other stars - among the greats.
In the end, Silver Screen’s wish indeed came true - but not in the way he could foresee. He had learned too late that fame, be it by hard work and luck, or by the assistance of a genie, comes at a personal cost. In attempts to reach for the stars, he lost what he had down on earth. Silver agreed to pay the ultimate price of show business - in the Twilight Zone.
