Masquerade Theatre

The house lights were still up in the Royal Canterlot Theater. The doors had opened several minutes ago, and the air was alive with the chatter of several curious patrons beginning to settle into their seats; the stage crew was running their last few preparations as lighting and sound technicians shuffled into place; and somewhere just behind the large red curtains, Seta was freaking the fuck out!

“I-I can’t do this. I can’t do this! Not with so many people… why’d I let him talk me into this? I can’t do this!”

The skirt of her flowery, yellow sundress fluttered violently as the young changeling woman paced in frantic circles. Her pixie-like wings buzzed at a frenzied pace as her sunset orange eyes darted from corner to corner. Every now and then she would start to settle down, take a few deep breaths, look at the raised platform in the center of the stage, look up at the stage curtain, and then immediately return to her nervous fit.

From across the stage, a second changeling emerged from the green room, a smart-looking, turquoise vest on his shoulders and an excited smile on his face. One look at his co-star, however, and he immediately took on a more concerned expression before rushing to her aid.

“Whoa! Everything alright, Se?” He asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Seta immediately shrieked and flew a good few feet in the air at the contact before gazing back down at it’s source.

“Oh...jeezle pete, Cornicle! You can’t just scare me like that,” she scolded before gently floating down to her feet.

“Wow,” said Cornicle as a tiny smirk tugged at his lips, “I’ve heard of pre-show jitters, but you are just something else.”

Seta looked back at her co-star. It was hard to believe that the man who had first started the Changeling Theatre Society; who had introduced her hive to the likes of Shakespear, Ibsen, and Sophocles; and who had become a mentor to her these last few years was now introducing not just her, but the entire public of Equestria’s capital to…this!

“A-are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked Cornicle. “I mean, is this even legal here? The laws are different from the Hive’s, and I’ve heard Equestrians are much more conservative about-”

“Do you really think we would be allowed to even come here if it wasn’t?” He interrupted her. “I made sure to check all local statutes on the subject. It turns out that the government has become pretty lax on these matters the past few years, and have decriminalized all work of this kind. Turns out the laws were only being held in place by stuck-up, old puritans.

“In fact…” his voice lowered to a more sultry tone, “I’ve even heard that the overturn effort was supported by the Princesses themselves.”

That got Seta’s attention. The thought that any one of Equestria’s matriarchs might be waiting just behind the curtain brought a viridian flush to her face. Her previous panic attack was brought back with even greater fervor!

“Ah! NO! I can’t go out there! Not if one of them is watching! It’s too embarrassing! What if I mess it all up? What if a princess sees me mess up? It’s still my first time- I mean, not my first time first time - but my first time doing this-”

Seta stopped only to take in a loud gasp before looking back at Cornicle with legit horror in her eyes.

“What if someone wants me to be a man?”

Before she could continue her insane ramblings for even a second longer, Cornicle brought the girl into a caring embrace.

“Hey, hey...It’s alright,” He soothed. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. If it makes you uncomfortable, you have every right to say ‘no’.” He smiled at her with his burnt-orange eyes. “And don’t worry about messing up. Just be yourself and people will love you. It really is that easy, you know?”

Seta’s blush calmed down a little, though her cheeks maintained a faint green dusting.

“You know,” she chuckled, “‘Be myself’ might be a bit of an ironic choice of words, don’t you think?”

Cornicle returned the laugh. “Now that’s the Changeling I know!”

Seta gave one last deep breath before she faced the curtain again. This time, though, she didn’t freak out. This time her face was resolute. This time she faced the crowd not with a frown, but a smile.

“Okay.” She nodded. “I’m ready.”

“Glad to hear.” Cornicle nodded back before finally removing her arms from around her. “Now come on! We haven’t another moment to waste. The curtain will be rising any second, now.”

Seta smiled, before the two took each other’s hand and moved to the front of the stage.

“Ready?” Cornicle asked her.

“Ready!” She nodded.

“In 3…”

“2…”

“1…”