Pressure

Starlight tossed and turned in her bed. She was restless. Tomorrow was speech night, and she still couldn’t seem to get over her nerves. Maybe she should’ve talked to Twilight. She thought of what happened at dinnertime.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t be in Ponyville for most of the day. I’ll be back from princess training at around 3:00, though, so I’ll be there for the speech.”

“Great, another pony I’ll be letting down when I can’t find my voice on stage.”

“Don’t worry, Starlight, you’ve been doing great!”

“Spike’s right. Just remember, your friends will be there to cheer you on!”

She gulped down a big ball of emotions. Starlight didn’t know how to feel. Her friends had helped her come so far, she didn’t want to disappoint them. But she also didn’t want to make herself feel this jittery.

Starlight paced back and forth. She stared at herself in her mirror and saw how shaky she was. Her eyes darted to the pictures of her friends. She thought she saw them laughing. Laughing at her. Her breath became heavy and she could no longer stand up. She lay down on the floor until she heard a knock at the door. “Come in,” she said.

It was Spike. He looked at Starlight and then dragged her along. “Come with me. I know just what you need.”

Starlight bit her lip. “I doubt it.”

A few minutes later, they arrived at the Ponyville Spa. Spike left Starlight on her own to calm down. “I’ll be at the park if you need me!” He called as he waved goodbye.

Starlight took an hour at the spa, but Spike was right. She didn’t feel too bad now. The spa reminded her of Trixie, of all her friends, and how they would be there to cheer her on, just like Twilight said.

Starlight walked to the School of Friendship. The walk was just what she needed to plan tonight out. She opened her office door, expecting to see Sunburst. He wasn’t there, but Starlight heard his voice next door, in Trixie’s office.

Sunburst was on the couch, facing Trixie. “All we need to do now-”

“Hey, guys!” Starlight said, walking into the room, like nothing was wrong. She hoped Sunburst and Trixie couldn’t see past her act.

“Hey, Starlight!” Sunburst said with hesitation. “I wasn’t expecting you at the school today. Are you excited for tonight?” He asked.

Starlight nervously laughed. “Yeah, um, excited.” She looked down.

“Is something wrong? Because if there is, The Great and Powerful Trixie can always give good advice.” Trixie added.

“Actually, yeah. I’m actually pretty nervous about tonight. What if I lose my voice? Or I trip on stage? Or-”

“That won’t happen, Starlight. We’ll be there for you,” reassures Sunburst.

“I know you can do it!” exclaims Trixie.

Starlight nods and puts on a determined face.

“My name is Starlight Glimmer. No, no. Thank you for coming to the special event. No! Thank you… kindly? UGH!” Starlight groans. She hears a knock on her door. “Come in!”

It was Spike, checking in on her. “Were you…”

Starlight blushed. “Just memorizing my speech. You can’t really be too prepared with that, can you?”

“Now who’s been hanging around Twilight too long?” Spike responds.

Starlight laughs her first real laugh of the day. “Good one, Spike,” she admits. Looking past Spike, she notices her alarm clock. 3:55! Oh no! She runs out of her room, running as fast as Rainbow Dash in a race. She arrives at 4:00, breathless. She sits behind the curtains, sitting down. She knew she couldn’t go back in time, but that’s what she was wishing for right then and there.

Starlight felt like she had forgotten something. In the rush, that was very likely. She probably just forgot to shut the door. It couldn’t be too important, right? Right?

The stands were full. 4:10 already. Her heart wouldn’t stop beating. Her legs wouldn’t stop shaking. She couldn’t stop worrying.

Twilight grabbed a glass and a spoon and beat them against each other. “If I could have everypony’s attention?” She glances around to make sure everyone is listening, which they are. “Welcome, fillies and gentlecolts, to tonight’s special event. As you know, my student, Starlight Glimmer, has come a long way in her friendship studies. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of her graduation day with a speech about friendship!” Twilight announced. She waited for the cheering to die down before continuing. “Please welcome… Starlight Glimmer!”

Starlight just ignored all the cheers and looked for her friends. She couldn’t find them, and she worried, even though she knew they were there somewhere. The spotlight turned on, and it shone on her. “Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Starlight Glimmer, and I’ll be sharing with you my knowledge of friendship,” she spoke. She looked down at the podium to find her index cards were missing. She couldn’t go on without them! She tried remembering what was next. “I, um…” she mumbled. She felt like her whole life depended on this one moment. And she was about to fail it!

There was no way she could go on. She decided to run off stage, like she did in her dream the other night, until she felt someone’s hoof on her back. It was Trixie, who didn’t look worried at all. “Tonight, The Great and Powerful Trixie and her best friend, Starlight Glimmer, will share with you what we have learned about the Magic of Friendship!”

Starlight smiled at Trixie. A big smile. Then she took a deep breath and faced the crowd. “I used to be really bad. But ever since Twilight and her friends extended their hooves in friendship, I have become a better, stronger pony.”

“I used to be like that, too,” says Trixie. “But Twilight and her friends also helped me see that friendship was something I needed in my life.”

“Because of her, I’ve learned that friendships last forever.”

“That friends will always be there for you.”

“That friendship is an important part of our life, even for those who don’t realize it,” Starlight says, tears of joy streaming down her cheek. “So tonight, everycreature, is not just my night. It’s a night to celebrate the ponies who brought me up to this amazing place today. Huge shout-out to Twilight Sparkle and her friends!” Starlight’s gaze drifts towards Twilight’s shocked eyes. She motions for her and her friends to come on stage. After a pink burst of magic brings them all on stage, Starlight yells her last words of the speech. “Give it up for Twilight Sparkle and her friends!”

It sounded more like a rock and roll concert because of all the cheering.

Twilight smiles, and starts crying, too. She pulls Starlight in a hug and whispers, “I had no idea your speech would be so great.”

“Me neither,” Starlight agrees.

“Let’s throw a party!” Pinkie suggests.

“Actually Pinke, I’ve had enough excitement for now. Maybe tomorrow.” Starlight ran over to Trixie’s home and knocked on the door. Trixie’s head appeared through the window. “Thanks for everything, Trixie.”

“What are friends for?” She responds.

“Friends are for having your back,” Starlight says, pulling her into a hug.