The Adventures of Young Master Zhi
17 When Life Gives you Lemons...
Previous ChapterNext ChapterCh 17 - When Life Gives you Lemons...
----------(MANEHATTAN, 64 TIMOR STREET, THURSDAY 3:30 P.M.)----------
It was a very celebratory and festive day at the Castle of Friendship, as colorful and scintillating streamers, tinsels, banners and dangling plastic golden stars hung from four different long nylon ropes, each of which are securely taped to four different white multi-faceted pillars at each outward corner of the main foyer intersection in the castle entrance hall. Each decorated rope was then lifted up to the highest point of the sparkling glass chandelier, which was hovering above the well-lit center of the huge foyer space. The crystal chandelier was exposed to multiple slanted skylights in all directions, where all the natural sunlight was redirected downwards and radiated like holy crepuscular rays onto the crossed carpet lining of the foyer floor space. More decorated colorful ropes were also tied and connected to each multiple chained green and yellow oil lamps, creating a large sparkling halo effect over the foyer.
In addition, there were also a couple of floating colorful helium balloons that littered the huge ceiling space, though most were found outside the skylight so as to not block out the natural light. Some of the balloons were stringed and tied to weighted cardboard boxes in groups, so they remain as decoration on the floor space instead. Between two of the four white outwardly cornered pillars was an open-wide entrance into the main stairs that lead to the second floor of the castle. On that second floor, there were multiple yellow- and green-filtered limelights were installed on the golden railings, overlooking the first floor of the main entrance hall below. Between those two white cornered pillars that lead to those flight of stairs, there lied a makeshift hardwood stage platform supported by multiple struts and legs and was covered by a large red curtain supported by tall steel cubed-like scaffolding beams. Trailing from the stage platform (behind the huge red curtains) were multiple thick insulated cords that lead to a huge multi-battery energy supply on the second floor, possibly to power the surround-sound speakers, microphones and electronic equipment behind the curtains. To prevent possible accidents with the trail of electric cords, they were taped down to the bottom edges along the hallway, thereby leaving enough space for grounded creatures to freely move about. Entry onto the stage was only accessible (for grounded creatures) via flanking short steps. Fortunately, there was enough space between the two flanking gaps to allow some entry to the leading upward stairs (but only to technicians certified to operate the lighting from the second floor).
Moreover, there were some tables that were set up adjacent to the crystal castle walls and huge green-paneled doors along the hallway perpendicular to the carpeted path to the main castle entrance and second-floor stairway entrance. Each table supplied huge pitchers of citrus punches, including lemonade (yellow or pink), orange juice, lime punches and grapefruit drinks. Various other fruity consumables, such as colorful grapes, strawberries, bananas, cherries, blueberries, kiwis and red grapes, also decorated the tables. Some tables also offered lemon-themed desserts such as lemon surprise cupcakes, lemon meringue pie, lemon pudding, lemon cheesecake, lemon mousse and lemon cookies. Multiple clear plastic cup towers and paper plate stacks were on every table to provide every creature a sizeable small portion to consume those sweet and citrus fruitful treats.
All of these festival set-ups were thanks to substitute Headmare Trixie Lulamoon, who decided to hold Thursday's huge school assembly for a few reasons. For starters, today was the School of Friendship's second spring Amity Ball, where every creature will participate in the prom-like dance party. However, instead of holding the special event in the school's gymnasium or foyer, Headmare Trixie decided to hold the Amity Ball within the Castle of Friendship for two reasons. For one, she wanted to exploit a loophole that will allow suspended students to still participate in the festivities, while at the same time provide them with the heavy work experience to build up their responsibility character. Since the suspension only applied to no-entry into school premises, moving the party to outside the school will allow suspended students and teachers (such as Gallus, Pinkie Pie and Master Zhi) to still participate in the ball, while still sticking to their current punishment without having to enter the school premises. The second reason for the party relocation was to allow easy access to important VIPs and special guests into the Amity Ball, since only official students, teachers, job applicants, employee staff and government school officials were only allowed within the premises for security reasons. One of these special guests happened to be an associate of a philanthropic Canterlot Equestrian, who will be visiting the Amity Ball to experience the growing vast diverse multi-culturalism within the friendship student population.
Headmare Trixie Lulamoon could not had made this special Amity Ball event possible without all the hippogriffs, changelings and pegasi who helped with the extravagant decorations, as well as the strong yaks, earthen Equestrians, dragons and griffons who helped set up the portable stage and brought in the heavy electronic stage equipment. And lest not forget the unicorns, kirin, Thracians, Diamond Dogs and Abyssians who helped with the food table. To prevent as unauthorized entry into other parts of the castle by the party guests, hallways leading to the other rooms were cut off by huge stalactite and stalagmite crystal barriers cast by Miss Starlight Glimmer and Professor Rarity, as well as huge ethereal barriers that were draw out by the magical green sand borderlines laid across the floor. Encryption spells were also used to enchant those meta-physical and solid barriers, so they cannot be dismantled, breached or overcome without a proper disenchantment spell. Everything seemed to be going very well for this special Amity Ball---albeit some of the unpacked decorations on the boxes, compact tables and crates were still not fully set up yet, and every creature, including The Student Six, Tiny Turnip Head and Miss Starlight Glimmer, were struggling to unpack the rest of the confectioneries before the major dance competition can begin.
"C'mon, every creature! Pick up the pace! The show is going to begin within less than five minutes!", urged Miss Starlight as she struggled to unravel the string of multi-colored ribbons and tinsels on the table. Helping the recovering school mare was Ocellus, Gallus, Silverstream and Master Zhi, who were inflating the rest of the balloons, unwrapping the boxes of disposable kitchen utensils and gathering up all the confetti that was previously spilled accidentally on the carpet by one of the clumsy yak students.
"It's very nice of the new Headmare to give us a chance to work on the Amity Ball party. I really owe her a lot in giving me a chance to redeem myself.", praised Gallus as he opened his next plastic bag of deflated balloons.
"That's Headmare Trixie for ya: always giving other creatures more than enough second chances to build themselves up from the bottom, even if when they do make up more mistakes along the way...", commented Miss Starlight as she unpacked the taped boxes of lacy ribbons.
"HEY, you're finally getting to remember Headmare Trixie a little more now! I'm impressed with you, Miss Starlight!", complimented Silverstream as she opened up the stack of paper plates.
'Yeah---yet...I still feel like have a long way to go though...", Miss Starlight softly replied as she hung her head.
"HEY, Headmare Starlight!!", shouted Yona as she was carrying a 2m x 1m portrait painting of Fancy Pants in his dashingly exquisite black suit, his single gold-chained monocle purple bow-tie, blue sweater vest and buckled blue cashmere pants. Helping with transporting the golden-framed painting was the buxom tank-top wearing Professor Pinkie Pie.
(Source:https://jayisbutts.com/post/174805602557/full-service-playing-cards-series-1-double-e)
"Yona, I told you to call her by Miss Starlight from now on! Her mind is still stuck in her counselor years!", shouted Master Zhi as he opened up a crate of lemon juice boxes.
"RIGHT, sorry! Yona wrong!", corrected the enthusiastic nak girl herself as she blushed, while holding the picture frame at the bottom.
"SIGH! Don't mention it! I know it's hard to get used to it now, but it'll be over soon", assured Master Zhi as he stoically looked at the bashful Yona.
"So---MISS Starlight!", shouted the excited Professor Pinkie as she was holding the top-part of the portrait frame. "Where do you want this painting of Mister Fancy Pants?!"
"OOH, this portrait is VERY important for our upcoming guest! Hang it between these two crystal hearts, by those two tall pillars over there!", ordered Miss Starlight as she pointed at the solid wall space way above the stage.
"OOOOH, may I help??!! PLEASE, pretty pretty PLEEEAASSEE??!!", pleaded the rapidly-flying Tiny Turnip Head who came out zipping from high above the ceiling. "Every flyer out there is still decorating the ceiling with reflective stickers and tape! Let ME be the volunteer for your painting for you!"
"I dunno, Tiny Turnip Head. You look to frail to carry such a large painting up in the sky", said the skeptical Silverstream as she stroke her chin with her talon.
"Yeah, you'll probably strain your arms and wings trying to lift that painting", added the worried Ocellus.
"Awww, I'm not gonna lift it! I'm just going to hold it steady and make sure it's planted on the nail!", replied the sadly toned Tiny Turnip Head as he pulled out his nail and hammer.
"These girls are right, Turnip. Even with the help of Yona and Professor Pinkie Pie, you could get seriously hurt if you tried to hang that painting. How's about you let these girls help out with the painting instead?", suggested Miss Starlight Glimmer as she pointed to Silverstream and Ocellus.
"OR, better yet! Have ME hang the painting alone! I'm a strong griffon! Can't you see??", boasted Gallus as he flexed his feathery muscles.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, TEACHER!! I'm tired of doing boring jobs around this castle! I wanna do something important!", shouted the crying Tiny Turnip Head as he bawled out his eyes.
"You ARE doing something important: hanging all those glittery ropes up---", briefly explained Master Zhi before he was quickly interrupted.
"That's the problem!! I don't want to do that boring stuff anymore!! I wanna do something REALLY special, just like you, Master Zhi!!", Tiny Turnip Head bawled before Master Zhi attempted to have his say in the matter before his foster son
"Listen kid! Mastering something doesn't mean doing the hard stuff first, you have to---"
"PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE---!!!", spat out Tiny Turnip Head as he began shoving his blabbering mouth right up to Master Zhi's face, much to his annoyance.
"All right, all right, all right!", cried Master Zhi as he quickly raised both hands. "JUST be careful with that old painting! It's a one-of-a-kind masterpiece commission from one of the best student artists!"
"ALL RIGHT!! Let's go hang that masterpiece, Professor Pinkie!!", excitedly shouted Tiny Turnip Head as he got out of his Master's face and quickly followed his favorite pink teacher.
"Okey-dokey-LOKAY!!", happily agreed Professor Pinkie Pie as she walked off towards the stage to hang the painting.
"REMEMBER, right in the middle!", hollered Master Zhi as he cupped hands over his mouth to amplify his message, before Miss Starlight Glimmer shockingly stuttered
"HEY, w-w-what in Equestria---??! H-he's going to get hurt!! We can't j-just let them---!!"
Just as she was activating her horn, Master Zhi quickly raised his arms to block Starlight's view of Tiny Turnip Head, before lecturing Miss Starlight Glimmer about his foster son.
"TRUST ME, even if you girls tried to interfere, he'll just put up an even MORE bigger and fussier fight than usual! Don't underestimate him! He may look frail, but he's REALLY super quick, due to his lightweight frame! He'll probably make it much harder for you to aim your levitation powers at him by going really really fast! Trust me, I had Tang tried to catch him and he wasn't able to get a bead of that little tyke streaker..."
"Just like with Rainbow Dash when he tried to avoid Princess Sparkle's harmony spell when she tried to remove the discordant chaos within him, right?", said Ocellus as he looked at Master Zhi.
"...Even if you did managed to catch him, he'll never hear the end of him if I keep pulling that tyke away from his passions. He's the type of fool who would never say 'no' to a challenge...", continued Master Zhi.
"Man, and I thought I had egotistic issues...", muttered Gallus.
"Oooooh, I hope he doesn't end up hurting himself!", shuddered Silverstream.
"If he does, I'll be the first to come to his aid...", responded Ocellus with determination.
Just as Miss Starlight was about to protest and rebut against Master Zhi, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of ruffian kirin slamming open the main castle entrance! When she turned around and saw the posse, she instantly recognized them as Sunny Boy and his four Sunny Side Schoolboys from the last soccer match.
Worried that they were here to cause more trouble outside of the school, Miss Starlight Glimmer took off from her table and ran towards the posse. She saw that the two kirin and two Far Eastern unicorns behind their leader were still sporting their usual gangster attire of vinyl jackets, orange sunglasses, snazzy silk shirts and denim jeans. Sunny Boy, on the other hand, was wearing his dark-brown shades, his short orange mane cut, his trademark stubble, grey jacket, orange buttoned shirt, brown corduroy pants and black shoes.
"HEY, what do you think you're doing, barging into the castle like you own the place??", questioned the cautious Miss Starlight Glimmer as she stared down at the leader.
"Relax, Missy!", assured Sunny Boy. "We're not here to cause mischievous trouble. We're here to perform a live band for that Amity Ball". He took out a pair of drumsticks from his pocket, while the rest of the kirin behind him teleported their own set of musical instruments. One of the far Eastern unicorn students, #12138, carried an electric guitar, while the other carried a drum set for Sunny Boy. Two kirin showed off their teleported pipa1 and violin.
"WAIT, I thought the school kirin pop band was going to help with the performance! What in Tartaric hell did you do to them??!!", shouted the threatening Miss Starlight as she activated her magic horn.
"MISS STARLIGHT, WAIT! They're actually with me!", hollered one kirin student with an orange fluffy mane, pickle-green nose ridge and white-beige coat, who ran over to her substitute teacher with a raised cloven hand.
"Autumn Blaze?! HUH??!", questioned the confused Miss Starlight as she saw the frantic kirin come to her direction.
"Some of the kirin, including the piano singer, came down with a bad case of dysentery after a bad dinner experience down by a local dim-sum restaurant!", panicked Autumn Blaze as she stood between the rogues and her substitute teacher. "I needed to find a replacement fast and these gangster boys from the other day overheard my panicked cries for help!! I really wanted to make my theatrical performance work, so I had no choice but to allow them into the party! I'm sorry, Miss Starlight...."
"See?? He's not joking here...", replied one of the gangster kirin.
Miss Starlight gave out a very heavy groaning sigh, before taking a deep breath and talking to the rogue gang
"Okay---FINE...go on stage and do what you have to do". Miss Starlight then abruptly shoved his serious expression towards the smirking Sunny Boy and snarled at him
"But PLEASE! DON'T mess this party up for us! Otherwise, you WILL regret it!"
"Thank you, Miss Starlight", said the relieved Autumn Blaze. "I'll make sure these boys will follow everything on the script, won't you boys?!"
"YES, MA'AM!", shouted the kirin boys before they followed Autumn Blaze to the stage platform behind the red curtain.
"Don't you fret, Miss Blaze! I taught these kirin on how to create a great mental photographic memory!", boasted the tough yet nerdy Sunny Boy as he gave out a confident smile.
Meanwhile, as the kirin band was taking their positions on the stage, a perilous balancing tower of chairs based near the middle front of the stage was precariously stacked high up towards the highest point of the arched entrance. Standing on those haphazardly stacked chairs was the balancing heavy Professor Pinkie Pie as she stood on top of the thing wooden edges of the chair, while Yona was standing on Professor Pinkie's shoulders. Professor Pinkie Pie was not having a good time with balancing the heavy nak girl on her shoulders, as the nak's big fluffy crotch was pressing hard onto Pinkie's forehead. Moreover, Tiny Tiny Head was rapidly flapping his wings as he tried to keep the painting steady, making sure it didn't slip from Yona's big awkward cloven hands. Due to his petite size, he can't lift the heavy golden frame of the painting without spraining his noodle arms, so he wasn't going to be helping if the painting does end up falling from Yona's grasp.
"Professor Pinkie, be careful! You almost tipped over there!", shouted Tiny Turnip Head as he struggled to hold the heavy portrait painting.
"Don't worry about me!! I've done this kinda work before!", shouted the nervously trembling Pinkie Pie as she tried to concentrate with Yona's thick butt pressing against her forehead.
"No talk!! Yona got this!! Almost got there!", shouted the shaky nak girl as she struggled to set the Fancy Pants portrait in the middle region between the two crystal hearts on the high wall.
"C'mon, Professor! Hold yak tight! Tip to bit left!", requested the swaying Yona.
"I'm trying, but it's hard to do this while not falling off!!", shouted Professor Pinkie Pie as her foot trembled on the balancing chair tower.
"Hurry up, ladies! My wings are getting too tired!", complained Tiny Turnip Head as his hands were nearly slipping from the painting frame and his wings were starting to slow down a bit.
As the other flyers were too busy decorating the high ceiling and fetching the rest of the party supplies from the school, some of the young male creatures were curious about the dynamic towering spectacle. As they looked up, they soon realized that Professor Pinkie Pie, Yona and Tiny Turnip Head were precariously located near the top of the crazily stacked chair tower. More importantly, the boys were having a nice bottom lewd view of Professor Pinkie Pie's fat lower butt cheeks sticking out of her tight denim shorts.
"THERE, I think we got it!" shouted Tiny Turnip Head as he later positioned the painting by hanging its top frame by the nail that he hammered in beforehand.
Unfortunately, just as the painting was about to be hung, a random stray flyder come buzzing in towards Professor Pinkie Pie and shot a sticky gunk of web towards her face, causing her to lose her entire balance and sending both Yona AND the painting tumbling down 20 m towards the hard crystal ground!
As most of the male creatures watched in horror at the sight of falling chairs and the two unfortunate girls (including Tiny Turnip Head who lost his grip on the painting), one of the Equestrians, a green puffy-maned and banana yellow-coated pegasus stallion man, immediately flew up towards Professor Pinkie Pie and landed headfirst onto her butt-crack as she was falling down as fast as a ton of bricks!
One buff male yak proceeded to run towards where Yona might be falling towards, only to find himself have his face flattened by the falling fat nak girl! He suddenly fell hard onto the carpet floor and ended up with Yona's big fat butt shoving right up his bearded face!
Though the earthquake that almost toppled most of the string decorations was pretty loud and shockingly bone-shaking, both Professor Pinkie Pie and Yona were both okay, thanks to the two heroes who instinctively went over there to put themselves in harm's way to break their fall---well, that's what they WANTED you to think!
"HOLY CRAP!! What the hell was that??!!", shouted Gallus as he, Ocellus, Silverstream, Master Zhi and Miss Starlight ran to the pile of cluttering chairs near the stage. Soon, every creature stopped what they were doing to see the scrambled calamity near the stage.
"Turnip Head! Are you all right??!", shouted Ocellus as she flew up to the shocked white-coated and purple bowl-maned pegasus boy in the air.
"It's TINY Turnip Head to YOU, missy!", corrected the upset pegasus boy before she looked down at the mess and yelled, "And forget about ME!! What about THEM??!!"
"HEY, get off of her ass, you damn sick pervert!!", angrily yelled Master Zhi as he stomped his hoof onto Huckleberry's balls as the pervert laid on his back with Pinkie Pie's bum shoved into the student's face. The force of the kick was strong enough for Huckleberry to wince in agonizing pain.
"HEY, NO HITTING my students, even if they did something stupid!", shouted Miss Starlight Glimmer as he levitated both Pinkie Pie and Yona off the blushing male students. "This is your last warning, Master! Behave or get out!"
"Tell that to HIM, Miss Starlight!", shouted Master Zhi as he pointed at the high-pitched whimpering and tear-jerking Huckleberry who was grasping hard onto his smashed testicles with two hands.
"C'mon, dude! Let it go! It was an accident, all right?", Gallus interfered as he tried to calm Master Zhi down.
"ACCIDENT MY ASS!!! And I don't mean that literally!!", shouted Master Zhi as he barked at Gallus.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!", screamed Ocellus as she looked down at Yona in horror.
"OH my SWEET CELESTIA!!", screeched Miss Starlight Glimmer in horror as she covered her eyes out of horror.
"WHAT HAPPENED??!! Did some critch fell dead??!", shouted the panicked Tiny Turnip Head.
"No, but some creature ELSE is going to be soon once they figure out what happened to the painting!", shouted Master Zhi as he pointed at Yona's dazed and confused head. "See what happens when you DON'T listen to the pros??"
"---Uh-OOOOHHHH!!!!", exclaimed the trembling Tiny Turnip Head
"What happen??! Is Yona bleeding??! OOOHHH, please no hit Yona!! It no fault!", pleaded the traumatized Yona.
"It's all right, Yona! It's MY fault! I wasn't quick enough to blow the flyder off my face", shouted the nervously smiling Professor Pinkie Pie, who still got that sticky web gunk on her muzzle. Soon, every male started blushing as they started at the dirty-faced Pinkie Pie.
"OH, GROW UP and GET YOUR HEADS OUTTA YOUR CROTCHES, you perverts!!!", lividly shouted Master Zhi, causing all the boys to whimper in fear and walked back from Master Zhi's dirty shoe.
"No, you're fine, Yona! It's just that-----that---the painting is ALL RUINED!!", cried the panicking Ocellus as she pointed at the torn canvas hole that was around Yona's left horn.
When Yona looked up on her head, she suddenly panicked, immediately took it off her horn and saw that a large hole had been ripped over Fancy Pant's face! Soon, Yona started to scream and panic with Ocellus too!
"AW CRAP!!! What the hell have you DONE, Yona??!!" panicked the squawking Gallus as he slammed his cheeks with his talons.
"Whoops-EEE, Canellon-III!!", exclaimed the embarrassed Pinkie Pie, before she was suddenly grabbed by the tight tank top by Master Zhi.
"This is all YOUR fault! How in the hell are you gonna fix this now, you pink idiot?!!", shouted Master Zhi as he was about to wallop Pinkie Pie in the face for her incompetency.
"OOoohhh, please don't make this any worse, sir!!", pleaded Miss Starlight Glimmer as she tried to separate the two.
Just as another scuffle was about to break out, the entrance doors suddenly swung open and made a loud whamming sound as it slapped against the crystal walls!
"I hope you had a very nice train ride from Canterlot, Missus Fleur-de-lis. Is there anything you would love to see first during your stay?", asked Headmare Trixie as she escorted the slim and busty DDD-cup white unicorn mare with the swirly bright pink mane.
"I would love to see the painting of my Fancy Pants, s'il vous plait...", requested Missus Fleur-de-lis.
"OH, I think you will find our student's exquisite painting to be MOST delightful! We had one of the most talented painters from the changedling art and drama club commission the painting for you!", happily cried the smiling Rarity.
"GGAAAHH, quick!! Every creature, PLACES!!! You two, go find a large tablecloth to hide the painting!! Make sure these three here don't come close to it!!", ordered the quick-thinking Miss Starlight, before Pinkie Pie and Yona quickly grabbed the ruined painting and took it away from the curious eyes of the three newcomers.
As Miss Starlight Glimmer quickly ran up to Headmare Trixie, Professor Rarity and Missus Fleur-de-lis, the temporary Headmare was the first to respond to the eager-looking Miss Starlight with an introduction to her new guest
"Miss Starlight! What a surprise! I would like you to meet Missus Fleur-de-lis..."
"HI! Uhh---glad for you to be here, Missus Fleur-de-lis", greeted Miss Starlight Glimmer as she shook her soft velvet gloved hand.
"Her associate, Sir Fancy Pants, was the one who graciously donated his 2.5 million bit fortune to this school!", mentioned the substitute Headmare.
"Oh, STOP! You flatter him too much!", scoffed the embarassed yet humbled Fleur-de-lis. "He only did it to help you improve the rustic dorm lifestyle, so that his Canterlot collegues' children can live in better harmony AND luxury at your institution. Plus, it's his way to honor the Princess of Equestria who helped rally many brave souls against the Villainous trio."
"If anypony's going to earn bragging rights for turning this school into the top-most renowned institution in Equestria, it would be Sir Fancy Pants!", complimented the very boastingly humble Headmare Trixie.
"If you would be so kind, Miss Glimmer", kindly spoke Professor Rarity, "Missus Fleur-de-lis would love to have a view of our student's finest painting of Sir Fancy Pants..."
Sweating in a panic, Miss Starlight Glimmer started to think of a quick diversion and saw Autumn Blaze coming her way. With her quick-thinking, Miss Starlight Glimmer grabbed and hugged Autumn Blaze by the shoulder and spoke
"UUUHHH, how about we watch the students perform their first musical act for you??! They have been working really hard in rehearsal for the past week!"
"WHAT??!! Miss Starlight!! Those substitute kirin we hired barely could remember their musical cues and we're still short of two piano-player singers!", mentioned the panicking Autumn Blaze as she twiddled her thumbs.
"I can help you with that!! I'm both a great singer AND a piano performer!!", shouted Master Zhi as he suddenly butt into the conversation
"Are you sure about that?? We don't like boasters who think they can top off a melodious chorus!", warned the attentive Autumn Blaze.
"Lady, gimme a keyboard, microphone and some music sheets; then, I'll go in and blow your mind away before you can say 'Buck is your uncle, Fetlock is your aunt!'", boasted the self-indulgent Master Zhi.
"C'mon, Autumn Blaze! Just take the deal! He can get you out of ANY situation---provided he doesn't get physical with any creature", reminded Miss Starlight as she angrily stared deep into Master Zhi's eyes.
"Well, even with that covered, we're still missing one oral pianist!", shouted Autumn Blaze.
"Uhhh, in case you weren't listening, we're here to see the painting, NOT watch a musical!", interrupted Headmare Trixie.
"Oooohh, NO! It's all right! I would LOVE to see what kind of performance art your students had conjured up at this fine institution of yours...", insisted the flamboyantly speaking Missus Fleur-de-lis as she smiled at the nervous Miss Starlight Glimmer
'Noooo, not now! We're still a few musicians short!', panicked Autumn Blaze in her head.
"PHEW, I'm here right now! Sorry I'm late! Lots of pedestrian traffic out there! WHEW!!", gasped one black-and-teal curly-maned and lightly blue-coated Earthen mare, who was wearing her beautiful dark blue dress. She was being escorted by Professor Applejack by her side.
"HEY there, Miss Blaze! I got your mail! Hope I'm not too late...", calmly spoke the brown bang-maned and banana yellow-coated Earth stallion with his guitar.
"OH, Sweet Sparkles! You're JUST in time, Miss Coloratura and Mr Feather Bangs!! C'mon, let's get you all on stage, RIGHT NOW!! We're starting the performance for our new guests!", blabbered the hastened Autumn Blaze as she grabbed both the musicians' hands and ran to the stage. Master Zhi and Applejack, with no hesitation, delightfully followed them to where they need to go.
Soon enough, two more special guests arrived at the castle entry door, with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy escorting their them to the dance hall. These special guests included Miss Spitfire from the Wonderbolt Academy and Miss Treehugger of the Everfree Forest Preservation Society. Before they even know it, every flyer started covering the high ceiling skylights with stretchy nylon blankets, held taut by nailed in hooks at each corner of each slanted window. Dragons began lighting up the dangling oil lamps with their fire breath and changedlings transformed into several fireflies as they orbit around the sparkling central decor of the dance halls. Griffons, unicorns, pegasi and changedlings began manning their stations at the gas-powered limelights positioned by the golden-railed balconies overseeing the dance hall.
Afterwards, the amazed Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spitfire and Treehugger were greeted by the equally stunned Headmare Trixie and the excited Fleur-de-lis, questioning about why their students are starting the musical portion of the Amity Ball so early. Soon enough, they were suddenly greeted by Miss Starlight Glimmer, who offered them lounge chairs to lay their tired bodies on, as well as citrus punches and lemon desserts to relieve their parched throats and hungry stomach. Miss Starlight Glimmer hoped her improvised diversion will distract her guests and best friends from the actual disaster with a delightfully special present from the kirin performers.
----------(MUSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY SCRIPT)----------
SONG: Lemon
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Kenshi Yonezu
LYRICS LANGUAGE: Cantonese and English (originally Japanese)2
(Red curtains open)
(Limelight on Zhi playing piano and singing on mic)
🎹Zhi on stage:
🎵若耳邊惡耗 // 只歸惡夢 // 睜開竭疲眼目🎵
🎶Yai-hee biān è hào // zhī guī nong mèng // zhēng hoi ke pí yǎn moe🎶
If you open your exhausting eyes to the nightmares in your ears
🎵能讓你 擺脫一 切作弄 從頭改寫結局?🎵
🎶néng nu nǐ // bǎi tuō chī // tsaw lun so-tòng // cóng sai gǎi go?🎶
Can you forget all of the things and re-write this story with a new ending?
(Limelight on Feather Bangs with guitar)
Feather Bangs on stage (guitar):
🎵When I leave behind // something of mine // I stop to go and find🎵
🎵Brushing dust // from memories // of you and I // put on rewind🎵
(Silent pause before lighting up Autumn Blaze on stage and six kirin dancers on dance floor in yellow dresses)
(Piano and guitar, kirin dancers twirling)
Autumn Blaze on stage (pipa):
🎵尚記得你問 假使你若 一死去誰掛念🎵
🎶Shàng ge dé nǐ wèn // gah shǐ nǐ ning // yī sǐ hoi shuí guà niàn🎶
I remember what you said to me, who will miss you when you die..?.
🎵遺下了 多少驚險 故事承諾 不敢兌現🎵
🎶Yí hia lee // duō xing din-ting // gù shì seng nuò // bù gǎn duì yian🎶
How many thrills in our story-tales and our promises have remain unfulfilled?
🎹Coloratura on stage (piano):
🎵With a hidden past // too dark to cast // away all on my own🎵
🎵And without you // maybe that too // would have never turned to hope🎵
(Sunny Boy teleports near Starlight and offers a duet dance)
(Sunny Boy's drumsticks playing cymbals and drum under loop spell)
🎙Sunny Boy (vocal mic):
🎵All / the / hurt // and the pain // I found🎵
🎵Sink-ing // into me, // deeply now🎵
🎵Found / that // nothing could // hurt me more, // than what // I feel now🎵
👫(Sunny Boy pulls Starlight into duet dance)
🎼🎻🎸(Spotlight on kirin guitarist and violinist playing on stage)🎸🎻
Autumn Blaze (pipa):
🎵那天所有 甜蜜 苦青 酸澀🎵
🎶Nà tiān shu yǒu / tián mao // fu zhu // shu yee🎶
All the bittersweetness everyday
🎵那天所有 無奈 痛苦 心結🎵
🎶Nà tiān shu yǒu / wú nài // tòng kǔ // xung yee🎶
All the helpless pain I feel each day
🎵你的所有停在 滴血心裏我只可掛念往時🎵
🎶Nǐ dí shu yǒu / tíng zhoi // dī hee // xung loi / ngaw zhī // ho guà // nee wǎng / shí🎶
All the times you wrapped my bleeding heart, it's all I can remember now
(Fireflies orbit around lemon-yellow dancers)
🎹Coloratura on stage (piano):
🎵🍋Even now, remaining / is that / bitter🍋🎵
🎵🍋Scent of lemon / that’ll // never // leave🍋🎵
🌧🎵Waiting out that rain, I can’t go home / until it clears and fades🎵🌧
🌤🎵Even now, you’re still my sun / that bursts / with light / onto my shade🎵🌤
(Stage band instrument playing melodious interval)
🍋(Fifteen lemon-yellow kirin dancers surrounding Sunny Boy and Starlight, performs synchronized waltz-beat side-steps and swirling dance moves)🍋
🐥🍋(Yellow canaries fly and orbit around Sunny Boy and Starlight in synchrony, carrying lemon citrus leaves, before placing them on their heads like laurel crowns)🍋🐥
🎙Starlight Glimmer (on dance floor):
🎵Tracing out the lines // around your flank, // my mind's so deep and blind🎵
🎵Every last // edge of your mark, // I can still see deep into my mind🎵
Autumn Blaze on stage (pipa):
🎵在腦海裏頭 不想接受 風光已全變舊,🎵
🎶Zài nǎo hǎi lǐ tóu // bù xiǎng jiē shòu // fēng wung yǐ choon biàn gow🎶
In my fantasy, I don't want to see the scenery grow too old
🎵流下了 酸澀的微妙痛楚 往昔生了銹🎵
🎶Liú how liǎo // suān kee dí ming miào tòng chǔ // wǎng xī shēng liǎo xow🎶
The delicate souring pain since then has sharpened up with age
Feather Bangs on stage (guitar):
🎵What are you even doing now? What are you seeing all around?🎵
🎵Faces that we will never see, we won't know a thing🎵
💡(Changeling dancers fly upwards and glow like fireflies from their wings)
🎹Zhi on stage:
🎵哪管你在何處 是否天國,🎵
🎶Nǎ guǎn nǐ zài hé-chǔ // shì fǒu // tiān guó,🎶
Whether you're in heaven or still breathing,
🎵會否跟我同樣缺少一角,🎵
🎶Huì fǒu gēn wǒ tóng yàng // quē soo // yī guh,🎶
Will I still be missing at your corner?
🎵浸於傷痛流淚 內疚失控 想不起快樂笑容🎵
🎶tong yú shāng tòng liú lèi // nèi gow // sau hong // xiǎng bù // hei fye // lè shew / róng🎶
Immersing in a guilt of pain with endless tears, I'm no longer smiling
🎙Sunny Boy (vocal mic):
🎵Still I hope you'll pay no // mind a-bout / me,🎵
🎵So please just leave every / thing / behind🎵
🌟(Raining yellow glitter from changelings)
🎙Starlight Glimmer (on dance floor):
🎵 ❤From the bottom // of my empty heart, // I’m hoping // that someday...❤ 🎵
🎵🌤Even now, // I'll find my sun // that will bursts with light /onto my shade!🌤🎵
🖼(Headmare and Fleur-de-lis spots covered painting near food table)
👯(Every creature on dance hall suddenly goes into slow adagio dancing)
🎙Sunny Boy (vocal mic):
🎵Until now, I never knew🎵
🎵I was so in love with you🎵
🎵Since you had to go and leave🎵
🎵It’s been hard for me to breathe🎵
🖼(Headmare and Fleur-de-lis goes see painting while every creature slow dances)
🎙Starlight Glimmer (on dance floor):
🎵Like I thought, those days you stood by me🎵
🎵Now they seem just like a dream🎵
🎵But they’re not, and hope I won’t forget🎵
🎵That one truth, since it’s all I have left🎵
🌟(Starlight and Sunny Boy stare into each other's eyes)🌟
🎼🎻🎸(Guitarist, violinst and pipa playing magnificently)🎸🎻
🖼(Fleur-de-lis uncovers painting)
(Through the hole, Ocellus disguises her face as Fancy Pant's charming expression without the mustache and still retain her green soulless eyes)
Fleur-de-lis: OOooh, he looks a decade younger on that portrait than he is in real life! Though the sheen on his eyes were a bit too overdone...
(Headmare Trixie stares suspiciously into painting, but still suspects nothing)
🍋(Every lemon-yellow dancer suddenly started grabbing every audience member, including Trixie and Fleur-de-lis, to vivaciously dance with them on the foyer like a romantic couple)🍋
(Ocellus quickly leaves, shakes off blue wig and transforms to her original self before joining with the flying dancers in her yellow dress)
✨(Dragons shoot geysers of yellow flame shout out from the edge of the stage)
Autumn Blaze AND Master Zhi:
🎶那天所有 甜蜜 苦青 酸澀🎶
🎶Nà tiān shu yǒu / tián mao // fu zhu // shu yee🎶
All the bittersweetness everyday
🎶那天所有 無奈 痛苦 心結🎶
🎶Nà tiān shu yǒu / wú nài // tòng kǔ // xung yee🎶
All the helpless pain I feel each day
🎶你的所有停在 滴血心裏我只可掛念往時🎶
🎶Nǐ dí shu yǒu / tíng zhoi // dī hee // xung loi / ngaw zhī // ho guà // nee wǎng / shí🎶
All the times you wrapped my bleeding heart, it's all I can remember now
(Fireflies cover decorative strings and halos above the dance floor)
Coloratura AND Feather Bangs:
🎶🍋Even now remaining, // is that bitter🍋🎶
🎶🍋Scent of lemon, // that’ll never leave 🍋🎶
🎶🌧Waiting out the rain, // I can’t go home until it clears and fades🌧🎶
🍋(Blonde yaks pushed large paper-mache half-lemons from opposite sides towards Sunny Boy and Starlight)🍋
🎙Sunny Boy AND Starlight:
🎶🍋Like a single / slice of lemon, / split to pieces / where they laid🍋🎶
🎶🌤Even now, you're still my sun / that bursts / with light onto my shade🌤🎶
🐥(Yellow canaries land on all dancers heads and fireflies form halos above Sunny Boy and Starlight)🐥
💛(Lemon-yellow dancers flank Sunny Boy and Starlight with symmetric ballerina poses)💛
----------(FINI)----------
After the music and dance number was complete, every student performer, professor and special guest congratulated with each other on a musical well done with celebratory applause, high-fives, hugs, head pats and wing slaps. As soon as the natural lights were back on once the skylight covers were removed, Master Zhi, Tiny Turnip Head, Autumn Blaze and the Student Six all rush happily towards the entertained Miss Starlight Glimmer, Sunny Boy, Headmare Trixie and Missus Fleur-de-lis.
"OH BOY, that was SOOO FUN!!!", shouted the elated Tiny Turnip Head, who had watched the performance from an aerial view above the dance wall, even getting yellow glitter and friendly fireflies sticking his white coat.
"Absol-LUTE-ly!! Those firefly rings and yellow birdies really stole the show for best cutest animal performance, Fluttershy!", excitedly shouted Professor Pinkie Pie, cause the buxom animal lover to blush at her compliment.
"Really love the lemon-themed dresses! I should put them in my upcoming summer fashion line! As for the performance, it was indeed MOST deliciously divine!", sweetly added Professor Rarity as she bobbed her wavy purple mane.
"SURE is! You definitely played that performance like a pro! I should've not had doubted you for a second!", cried the excited Autumn Blaze as she rushed over to the group. "Even your rogue boys played some killer tunes out there! It's MUCH better than I imagined! That fast-track memorization spell really worked!"
"YEAH, well---so did their natural musical talent!", happily replied the humble yet dashingly cool Sunny Boy. "I'm really glad I had a chance to participate and enjoy your special ball, Miss Starlight"
"I really love how you improvised that live audience group dance to get our Headmare distrac--EERR--I MEAN---entertained along with the rest of the staff!", fumbly muttered the happy loud-mouthed Starlight Glimmer as she sheepishly darted her eyes toward the suspicious substitute Headmare. "Not only you memorized those lyrics from Autumn's script really well, you put a lot of emotional acting in that performance too! That must've eally got your school fangirls screeching for your name, don't ya think??!"
Sunny Boy nervously blushed and chuckled as he darted his eyes and sweats profusely, muttering to himself
"Uhhh--yeaaahh---glad it was pretty convincing for ya---hehehehe...."
"HA, you were pretty convincing too, Miss Starlight!", shouted SIlverstream as she flew down from the high ceiling. "You looked like you were about to fall in love with this wannabe show-boater, huh?"
"Though it was kinda really sappy when you overdid it with the eye-staring and awkward hugging, the dance choreography was still pretty cool though!", complimented the low-flying Smolder as she was sweeping the golden glitter off the dance floor. "And don't get me started on those yellow birds putting on that lemon leaf crown! Sooo cliche like a teenage romance novel, right?!"
Those comments made by the girls somehow made Sunny Boy blush even a bit more than usual. He later asked Yona for another opinion on the performance.
"Soooo, uhhhh----what are your thoughts on that music number?"
"YONA now love lemons MORE THAN EVER!!!", shouted Yona as she munched down on a huge lemon meringue pie in one single gulp.
"YYEEEAAHHH!!", cried Tiny Turnip Head as he shoved a pair of half-sliced lemons onto his eyeballs, before screaming in agonizing yet deliriously happy pain. "WWWWAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"
"That was tres magnifique!!", hollered the singy-songy Missus Fleur-de-lis as she sang out her compliments. "It made the two-hour trip to your institution very worth-while! I might have to come back next year's AMity Ball!"
"WELL, I hope you enjoyed our school's little musical improv! Riiigghht, Miss Starlight?? WINK WINK!!", Headmare Trixie expressively spoke clandestinely as she literally winked at Miss Starlight twice. That caused the substitute teacher/counselor to sweat and shake, thinking that the new Headmare must've caught wind of her ruse. However, as she looked behind Headmare Trixie, she could see the quietly flapping Ocellus giving her a thumbs up, assuring her that the botched painting was fully taken care of.
"We should get going to continue the tour with the rest of the school", said Headmare Trixie as she addressed to Professor Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, alongside the surprisingly amused Spitfire and chilled Treehugger, who just finished shaking hands with the rest of the lemon yellow-dressed dancers.
"Uhhhh---I'll help escort you to the school!", hollered Miss Starlight Glimmer as she immediately coralled the special guests and professors out of the crystal castle as soon as possible, hoping they won't stay too long before they figure out what really happened to the painting..
"Umm---I'll come with you too---!", stuttered Sunny Boy as he rushed to Starlight's aid.
"But you don't even work here!", commented Smolder as she gave a disappointing expression.
"UM, just making sure they safely cross the moat bridge, that's all---hehe!", nervously chuckled Sunny Boy as he sheepishly followed Miss Starlight Glimmer.
"HEY, don't forget about us, Headmaster!", shouted Student #12138 as he and the rest of Sunny Boy's minions followed their leader.
As both Tiny Turnip Head and Master Zhi looked at each other out of confusion, another song was about to start soon for the Amity Ball dance contest...but that's where the fun actually ends here, because this fanfiction is not a musical!
----------(OUTSIDE SCHOOL OF FRIENDSHIP, END OF SCHOOL HOURS, 4:30 P.M.)----------
"Goodbye girls! See you on Friday!", hollered Miss Starlight Glimmer as she waved Silverstream and Ocellus goodbye.
"See you in the next morning, Miss Starlight! Get well soon for us!", shouted the two flying girls as they hurried to their trip to the local Ponyville mall.
Just as Miss Starlight Glimmer was about to cross and step off the stone pathway off the moat, she was suddenly blocked by Sunny Boy's rush in her direction.
"Hey, why are you still here?? The Amity Ball's already over!", questioned the confused Miss Starlight as she stared at the nervous Sunny Boy.
"I--uhh---was waiting for you...", nervously stuttered Sunny Boy as his 'cool' demeanor was finally wearing off upon seeing the busty school teacher/counselor in his sight.
As she was about to walk off, Sunny Boy immediately side-stepped in her direction before blurting out
"I need to tell you something REALLY really important!"
"Siiigghh, I really need to head out to Applejack's barn, since the castle here is still being cleaned up by the custodians...", replied the frustrated Miss Starlight Glimmer as she tried to be nice to the amatuer street thug.
"Uhhh---lemme escort you there!", insisted the persistent Sunny Boy.
"NAH, I'm used to heading out to town on my own...", politely spoke Miss Starlight Glimmer as she tried to implicitly deny his advances.
"LOOK, I'll make this quick! I won't take up much of your time! Just hear me out!", pleaded Sunny Boy as he spoke in a very urgent manner.
"Siiiggghhh, fine! Tell me now. What is it that you want?", impatiently asked Miss Starlight as she crossed her arms with an unamused tone.
"Uhhh, why don't we take a seat by that nearby bench over there?" asked Sunny Boy as he pointed to the wooden bench 20 m away from the end of the moat bridge. Wanting to get this over with it quick, Miss Starlight used her teleportation magic to instantly take her and Sunny Boy to the bench to sit on.
After the two quickly sat on the bench, Sunny Boy anxiously shook his legs and hands, while looking down at the ground. Gulping down really hard and facing directly at Miss Starlight Glimmer's face, he suddenly spoke out without a logical thought in the world
"Listen, what happened at that musical felt REALLY real to me! What I sang out there---it wasn't a performance! I'm really AM in total love with you!"
That brash comment immediately made Miss Starlight's face go red and her expression went from stoic to utter shock.
"So PLEASE, gimme a chance to date you and become my girlfriend someday!!", Sunny Boy continued as he bravely stared down right at her face with a red-toned blush on both of his cheeks.
Feeling like she had heard enough from this wannabe gangster boy, Miss Starlight Glimmer immediately stood up and found herself being hugged by the rash Sunny Boy, causing her to scream in horrified reaction to what looked like an attempted rape!
Under defensive instinct, she immediately cast an expanding push bubble spell to knock Sunny Boy off his hooves, before instantly teleporting far away as possible from the slimy pervert!
As the fallen Sunny Boy lay hard on his butt on the dirty ground, he at first felt pretty dejected over his newfound crush's denial for his affections both at the Amity Ball and in public. However, Sunny Boy was determined to get his girl with any means necessary, even if it means getting booked in jail. After all, he IS the successor of his godfather's underground empire after all. He could bail him out of jail if he wanted to, so as to continue with his teachings into becoming the most powerful gangster lord in all of Equestria!
Pulling out his keys from his jacket, he quickly teleported his way to his parked new green 1922 Stanley Steamer (his godfather owned many luxury steam cars), got into the driver seat, re-ignited the boiler, revved up the steam pressure and drove his way onto the Ponyville road.
---END
Author's Note
Pipa: traditional Chinese four-string instrument often played by plucking
Some lyrics may be re-modified and re-interpreted to fit the theme of this story; not all translations of Cantonese lyrics will be literal by text.
Variant music and lyrics for 'Lemon' are based off these covers (English, Cantonese and instrumental)