You're special, just the way you are
Star Singer was a mare of good singing talent. She wasn't of famous notoriety, but she was definitely one that has made a living off of her voice. Her soothing voice was one that many ponies would compliment on helping them sleep at night. Ponies loved her voice, and was quite happy with her decision on becoming a singer. Though, recently as of now, she felt a little down. The thing is, she is well aware of the situation she is in. The music industry is a very difficult one. It's a dog eat dog world there, and she placed herself inside this world without knowing the circumstances. She doesn't feel as special as she used to be. Star Singer had similar artists to her, and she wasn't one to compete with others. Star Singer sighed, looking over the city she lived in. The mare lived in Manehattan, a city that bustles and is like no other. Star Singer wanted to start her career here, after all, she wanted to go big or go broke. Though, with the circumstances of competition, she wonders if she soared too high to achieve her dreams. While she tried to relax, being in the city was apparently stressing her out, seen by how she just tapped her hoof rapidly. The singing mare went back and took her car out of the parking lot, driving out of the city. She had to clear her mind, there's a nearby park that can probably work. The sky was an amber orange for a sunset, with small strips of sky blue still streaking the sky as the clouds were in small stretched clumps, as if the sun's rays had cut through them roughly. The park was a trail park, several ponies were still out and jogging across the trail as Star Singer had found herself a bench and sat down.
She felt calmer, watching as the sky slowly begins turning clear and seeing the first star. A small sprinkle of light in the vast openness of space. Star Singer stares at the pinprick of extraterrestrial light. Just like the star, no pony was around to listen or to observe her. Indeed the stress of the city and the music industry left her, but the doubt in her mind lingered. If she's going to return, she'll have to deal with all that competition all over again. Her heart ached, yearning for a solution to her situation. Like a prayer, she talks to the star before her, eyes never leaving its sight as her voice quivers with a soft desperation.
"I-I know this is stupid, it's like wishing on a star and hoping it will come true. But, I'll just do it. I've put myself in a place where I had no preparation for, and I feel that if I don't do something, my life may be ruined for good. So, just....whoever is out there, can you help me out, just a little?"
As expected, there was no response. Star Singer sighed with obvious disappointment, though what she didn't know was that the star answered back, just not verbally. Her ears twitched upon hearing steps approach from the right. Her brows crunched together, she didn't hear four steps like a normal pony would. She only heard two, one pair of hooves that approached her in a casual manner. Turning her head, she looks over to find a strange being before her. It was definitely not a pony, seen by the fact that this being was standing on two legs. It was presumably male, seen by the gentle features of a masculine face, and heavy gray eyes like clouds on a rainy day. Fair white skin, was seen wherever exposed by the clothes this strange being wore, and the hair it had on its head was brought back in a neat cut, shades of grey with lighter tints. This being wore blue pants, and a pair of sneakers, judging by the design she saw on ponies who wore them, but shaped to the feet of this creature. A pure red coat covers an inner shirt, while nestling a dark tie between the two.
"Hello ma'am. May I take a seat with you?" Star Singer heard his voice, it was one that was as gentle as lamb's wool.
"Uh...s-sure." Star Singer accepts the offer.
The creature sat down on the bench as it creaked. The mare guessed that this person must weigh more than an average pony. A silence falls for a few seconds before the male would break the tension.
"How have you been lately?"
Star Singer stuttered on her response. "U-Uh...well, it's fine. I just didn't expect some-pony like you to visit me at this time." The sun was almost gone, shown by the last stream of light reaching over the horizon. The stars were out, and the mare swore that they seemed brighter than usual. "B-But I got a few questions. What are you, and...where did you come from?"
The male smiled. "I'm a human, and I came from a place called Earth." he looked around, seeing the trees that were familiar by knowledge but definitely foreign in place. "I suppose I am no longer on Earth, am I?"
The pony gulped. "No, you're in the land of Equestria. But...I just can't comprehend on why you're here."
"Well..." the human considers what had happened on his own life. "I think it was on the twenty-seventh of January when I passed-"
"You're a ghost?!"
The human laughs lightly. "I believe that is what I am. I've come to terms with my passing." he sighed and looked into the night sky. "I just hope things go well, since I am gone."
"That's nice and all. But that doesn't really answer the question of why you're here." reminded the mare.
"I was supposed to go to Heaven. Though, I heard your voice calling out to me. I asked the angels to wait for me before I go do this one last thing." The human said.
"I..." she turned to the star she wished upon. This, perhaps, was its answer to her. "I guess so. Well, is it alright if I talk to you about something."
"Go ahead." nodded the human.
"Actually, what is you name by the way?"
"Fred. Fred Rogers."
"Okay Mr. Rogers, I um..." she paused to figure out where to start. "I don't know what to do now. I love to sing, well, seen by my cutie mark, but I'm starting to think maybe I've gone too far. I put myself in the music industry, and now I got competition. Thing is, I don't like competing. What...What should I do? I love to sing, it's my talent, but I don't know what should I do next?"
Star Singer noticed that the entire time she expresses her problem to Rogers, she could sense the sincerity and comprehension as he looked at her. Not a single moment was wasted in being distracted by other things, most if not all that attention was focused on her.
"Well, I can't really tell you what to do next."
She sighed. "I know."
"But I can tell you a thing or two."
"What would that be?"
The next words would warm her heart. This man, this Fred Rogers, was saying these words as if he lived in Equestria in his entire life. It was so genuine, Star Singer could hardly believe it.
"I think you are special just the way you are. People can always do something special, some may have one talent, some with more. Even if they share the same talent as yours, the way you use your talent is what makes you unique. And that is what makes you special."
Star Singer took in these words. They ring true, even if there are other ponies that share the same talent as her, the way she uses it, and the way she handles her singing is unique to herself. She chuckled, feeling amused and relieved.
"Thank you very much Mr. Rogers. Though...before you leave," Star Singer hesitantly opened up. "Can I have a hug?"
Without a word, the human nods and steps in closer to give a hug to the singer. The mare felt his warmth, closing her eyes as she cherished this warmth. Though, as she opened her eyes, she noticed that the man was gone, but the warmth from the hug was still there. Star Singer laughed softly, looking to the star. In her mind, she gave thanks and began walking to her car to drive back to her apartment. Though in her mind, she kept singing a little song that she never heard of before, nor anywhere in Equestria. In her soft and star soothing voice, Star Singer sings to herself. She heard the sound of pianos and a soft somber tap of a cymbal.
"Won't you be..."
"Won't you be..."
My neighbor..?"
She might as well write it down for a song in the future.
