Cure for Pain

“Focus…” Twilight instructed. We had spent the last half hour practicing the levitation spell. It was my first magic lesson, and it was amazing.

“Hm…” I grumbled, putting all of my energy towards lifting Spike, who had “volunteered” to be the test subject. I finally lifted him to the third bookshelf, where he retrieved a book, and let him down.

“Twilight applauded. “Great! You’re learning at a very acceptable rate. I think that concludes today’s lesson. Wednesday at 8:00?” She inquired. I nodded.

I called Octavia later that night to request a tryout that next morning. She happily accepted. “Alright, Octavia. Thanks for arranging it. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said, hanging the phone up. “WAIT!!!” I heard a high pitched yell over the receiver. I picked up the phone quickly. “What?” I asked.

“If you make the tryout, I was wondering if you wanted to join me and the rest of the band for lunch afterwards. Then come back and practice with us until you know our music. Sound good?” I blushed. It wasn’t a date, but what the hell. A day with Octavia? Count me in. “Sure thing. I’ve got tomorrow free.”

“That’s good.” Octavia said. A question popped into my head. “Hey, Octavia?” I asked. “What’s the name of the band?”

“The Alicorns.” She said. “I know, sounds typical, but it works. See ya later!” She said. Then the dial tone filled my ear.

“See?” Octavia said the next day. “I told you he was good!” I had just put my heart out on the drums, and I was sweating profusely. It was worth it, though, to see everyone’s amazed face. The (ex) drummer had been so kindly left out of this meeting. “Yeah, he is!” The guitarist said. He sounded like a spaz, but spazzes often made great guitarists, so I wasn’t worried.

The singer nodded solemnly. For such a great singer, he didn’t talk much. He had a mysterious aura to him. I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, but that was for me to figure out.

“You’re in!” Octavia said, clapping her hands together.

“So…” I said, sitting with The Alicorns at the Cake’s Bakery. “What do you guys propose we do tonight. The guitarist spoke up. “We could start with what we started with; we’ll teach you the first songs we wrote, and as we advance, so will the pieces. Considering you’re the only person who needs the practice, it won’t be that difficult to teach you.”

I finally got back to the library at around twelve that night. Hours of drumming can do it in for me, and I wanted nothing more than to sleep.

I crept in quietly, closing the door as quietly as I could. I stepped into the kitchen to get a drink, and walked into the main lobby of the library. Wait. Why are the lights off?

“SURPRISE!” I heard in the room. My heart dropped. Would I ever get to sleep. It was pleasant to see that there was only the mane 6 and Coleton present instead of the hundreds of ponies who usually inhabited the library during parties.

“Why are all of you here?” was my first question. I didn’t mean for it to sound as harsh as it did, but I was tired and sleepy, and seeing everyone here only took my prospect of sleeping and threw it out the window.

Twilight, with a grin as large as the sun, gave me a letter addressed to all of us. I took the scroll and unfurled it, reading it carefully.

Dear my faithful students:

I am pleased to inform you that you are cordially invited to the Grand Galloping Gala this year. I would enjoy it if you six would come and help with the preparations for the party, as it would make it so much easier for me and Luna. I am also pleased to inform Walker that The Alicorns are invited to open the dance. In the two weeks between today and the Gala, I would recommend that you practice and make a setlist: if you do not play perfectly, the more… “High Class” guests may not enjoy it. Once again, I am glad to have you as my acquaintances at this year's Gala!

With love and kindness,

Princess Celestia

I couldn’t believe it. I just joined the band this morning, and she already sent this letter with the knowledge that I had joined it? More than that, though, I had only been in Ponyville around a week, and the Princess had invited me to the social gathering of the year?

“Isn’t it amazing?!” Rarity yelled as my eyes moved from the paper. “I can’t believe that we’ve been invited, and you two have as well!” I hadn’t noticed, but Coleton had woken up and approached the group from behind me. He already knew, as they group had surprised him earlier that day when HE got home.

“And your band is playing!” Rainbow Dash said, happily. “I didn’t even know you HAD a band! Did you just recently join one!”

“Yeah, it’s weird!” I said confused. “I just joined the band ten hours ago, and she knows fast enough to put in the invite?”

Twilight shrugged. “She’s pretty ‘in the know’ about us. I don’t know if she’s omniscient or if she just gets information of us very quickly.”

“Well, we have two weeks.” Coleton said from behind me. “We better get ready.”