The Depths of Love.

I wake up to the sound of a voice and the brightness of light pulling me from my slumber. I groan, as I always do, the noise and light causing my head to hurt. I’m always sensitive first thing in the morning, and I’ve never gotten used to it. I open my eyes to see my mom, Sunshine Hooves, Celestia bless her, right in my face, as she always is. She seems to think it’s funny to wake me up with lots of noise and commotion.

        “Come on, my little Hearty, time to get up. It’s another beautiful day, and it can’t start without you!” she says with a big grin whilst shaking my bed.

        I try in vain to pull the covers over my head. “Five more minutes...”  My voice comes out half mumbled. Mom pulls the covers off me, shouting in a sing song voice,

“That is what you asked you asked for fifteen minutes ago! Come on, up!” I look at up at her. Her mane is a frizzy mass of brown, as usual.

“Fine, just stop shouting.” I roll over, stretching and yawning simultaneously, scratching a wing.

“If you are not out of bed by the time I come back, you are going to have a wet surprise waiting for you!” How she manages to say such horrifying things while sounding so cheerful is beyond me. I groan some more as I put my head under the covers in a vain attempt to go back to sleep.

I get out of bed moments before my mom comes back, holding a water bottle. “Aw, here I was, getting all excited.” She smiles that horrifically cheery smile, the one that she only gets when she is going to really mess with somepony. I give her a deadpan look.

“I know not to test you. Remember the last time I did? I woke up drenched in water.” I smile at her. “What’s for breakfast this morning?” I ask with a hopeful look.

She smiles. “Your favorite, french toast.” A goofy smile covers my face.

“Thanks mom. You always make the best french toast.” I yawn again. Mom takes this chance to douse me with water.

“I bet you’re awake now! See ya downstairs!” she says as she zips away.

I sigh, water dripping down my muzzle. I shake my head, sending water everywhere. I love my mom, I really do, but she can be so foal-like sometimes. Probably the reason we get along so well. I wipe the water off me, and go downstairs, the smell of french toast and eggs drifting up to meet me.

I come to the end of the stairs and walk into the kitchen. Mom is at the stove, just finishing making breakfast. “You start at your job today, right?” she asks while setting up the table for breakfast.

I sit down at the table and start eating. After I take the first couple of bites, my taste buds loving every second of the warm french toast, I look at mom, and say, “Yeah, I finally start at the theatre.”

Mom looks up in recognition. “Oh, you mean the theatre where that unicorn mare works? She gives me a sly look. “This job wouldn't happen to have anything to do with her, would it?”

I almost choke, french toast spewing everywhere as I cough. After the most ridiculous coughing fit ever, I take a drink of milk, and look at my mom with what is probably the worst poker face in history. “What makes you think she has anything to do with this?”

My mom continues to grin. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because she is all you talk about these days, and the fact that you get all flustered when she is brought up.” Her grin grows even wider as my already horrible poker face gets even worse. “Or it could be the fact that you are desperately trying, and failing, by the way, to act nonchalant about all this?”

I let out a sigh. “Fine, you win. Yes, it has something to do with her, but not exactly what you think it means.”

Mom continues to grin that awful grin, that grin that says, Sure, I know that is what you say, but I know different. I hate that grin. “Oh really now?”

I look away from her, not able to look her in the eyes. “Yes, it has something to do with Moonsung, and yes, it might, just a little bit, have something to do with the fact that I find her just the tiniest bit attractive. But no, I did not pursue the job just for that reason.”

My moms sly grin turns to one of smug victory. “So, you admit that not only she has something to do with this, but also that you like her? I knew it.” She smiles even wider. “So, continue telling me how she is not the only reason that you wanted this job.” She waves a hoof, as if giving me permission to continue.

I look even farther away as my cheeks start to turn a deep shade of red. “Fine, it has everything to do with her. Happy now?”

Mom just laughs and says, “Yes, I am. Now, finish your breakfast. You don’t want to be late for your first day at your new job. After all, you want to make a good impression on Moonsung, don’t you?” She bursts out laughing again.

I look her in the face for the first time since I sat down. “Are you quite done teasing me? I think my blushing quota has been met for at least the next three years.”

She just laughs again. “Yes, for now. Go on, get outta here.”

I get up from the table, and start for the door. Mom calls after me, right as I open the door.

“Have a good day, Big Heart. Love you!”

I shout back over my shoulder, “I love you too!”

As I make my way into town, and towards my new job, all I can think of is Moonsung, and how much I can’t wait to actually meet her. I have been looking forward to this job for weeks, and when I got the interview last week, I was over the moon with excitement. At the end of the interview, when I was told that I had the job, it was all I could do to not hug tackle the interviewer. To say that this was something that I had been looking forward to for a long time would be the biggest understatement since saying that Princess Celestia is a not-so-secret fan of cake. This is going to be the greatest day of my life.

______________________________________________________________________________

I am almost done. For the fifth time this week, somepony has disconnected the sound board from the speaker systems and it’s my job to reconnect everything. I sigh. The sounds of the other workers are drifting up to the tech loft.

The Manehattan School of Theatre was a little theatre well known for it’s elaborate sets and captivating performances. I’d worked here for four years after being a student for six, making me a veteran of the theatre.

My magic lights the darkness under the table. In the pale blue light, I plug the last cord into the wall socket.

“Yes!” I smile proudly. “Finally done!”

“Moonsung!” A voice sounds behind me.

I yelp and jump, hitting my horn and head on the bottom of the tabletop. My hooves clamp onto my now sore head and I back out from under the table.

“Ow.. Ow.. Ow...”

The pony behind me is laughing. I turn to see a black earth stallion with a green mane nearly in tears. My horn and head begin to throb.

“Blackout! That’s not funny!” I scold.

Blackout wipes tears from his green eyes and snickers. “No, it was hilarious!!”

A tan pegasus with a brown and red mane pokes his head up from behind the light switchboard. “I wouldn’t say hilarious...” He winks. “...but the view was daaaaaamn sexy.”

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Script... Blackout... I hope you two don’t act like this when that new guy gets here...”

Script’s eyes grow wide. “BUCK! That guy starts today!?” The pegasus flies out the loft window, over the empty audience seats, and down into the stage area.

I flip my black and red mane out of my eyes and stare in confusion after him. “What’s his hurry?”

Blackout eyes the stage over the edge of the window. “Eh.. Grand Staff told him to give the new guy the rundown of the place... Fat Heart... uh... Low Heart...”

I glance at a notice on the wall. “Big Heart. His name’s Big Heart.”

 nice stallion who actually does his work.” I glare at the dirty floor.

Blackout sighs and picks up the broom. “I’m working, I’m working. Keep your horn on.”

He begins sweeping and I slip by him to the staircase. I really hoped the new guy would be different than the stallions I already worked with. If I was lucky, he would even be kind of attractive. I giggle to myself. I would probably be lucky if he got the assigned work done.

I walk down the stairs into the lobby. The owner, Grand Staff, is sitting at a table folding programs. He’s a charming elder pale yellow unicorn with a silver mane.

“Good afternoon, Grand Staff!” I shout. He’s rather deaf.

He turns and smiles at me. “Why, hello Moonsung! You got that sound system connected already?”

I nod. It’s easier than yelling to him.

“Well,” Grand Staff looks around the theatre then at the five programs he has left to fold. “I guess that’s all I have for you today. Encore and Half Note are finishing with costumes downstairs...” He thinks for another moment. “Yes... that was all I had for you today. You can go if you want, or hang around here. I’ll be leaving soon.”

I nod again and head into the theatre. Blackout is making faces from the tech loft at Script who is dancing stupidly in the middle of the stage.

“BLACKOUT!” I grab the broom with my magic and smack him in the head. “SWEEP!”

The black stallion laughs and takes the broom from my magic. “Yes, Mom!”

I roll my eyes and turn to the main doors of the theatre. Somepony is coming in. The lobby isn’t lit, as usual, so I have to squint to catch a glimpse of who it is. The pegasus is purplish gray, with a two tone blue mane. He trots into the lobby and looks around. Script shouts out to him, “Hey! Are you the new worker?”

I’m standing between Script and the new pegasus. The pegasus turns toward the stage and spots me. Even in the dim light I can see a faint blush appear on his cheeks before he switches his gaze to the tan pegasus behind me.

“Yeah. Hello!”

Script flies by me and lands with a loud thud in front of him. “Then you’re Big Heart.” Upstairs, Blackout snickers. “I’m Script. I’ll be showing you ‘round the place.”

Big Heart looks a little disappointed. “Alright.”

I have a feeling Script is going to mess this up, like everything else he does... I hop off the stage and walk toward the two pegasi.

“Hi, Big Heart. I’m Moonsung.” I glance at Script. “Script doesn’t always know what’s going on. I’ll be joining you two on the tour to fill you in where he gets lost.”

Big Heart smiles widely. “Hello, Moonsung.”

Script goes close to Big Heart’s ear. “She’s like the mother of the theatre. Nothing happens without her knowing.”

I roll my eyes. “Let’s go.”

Script mimics my eye rolling, then begins talking in an almost helpful way. “Well this is the lobby, whoever is the host or hostess that night gets to hang out in here to greet people and take tickets.” He nods to a set of black stairs on the left. “Those lead to the tech loft. Although, you’re a pegasus so you can just fly through the opening in the auditorium area.”

“Although that’s really against the rules.” I mutter.

Big Heart glances at me for a moment, then smiles again at Script. “I think I’ll just stick to the stairs.”

Script shrugs in his uncaring way and nods to a set of stairs under the tech stairs. “Those lead down into the basement where the costumes and set paints and props are kept.”

“Are you just going to be a worker or are you aiming to be an actor too?” I ask curiously. I kind of hope he’ll say actor too. We could always use more stallions.

Big Heart looks at me, with what could only be described as a restrained smile. “Well, I have always wanted to get into acting. I played in a couple of school plays as a little colt, and I have heard a lot of good things about this place. I figured if there was any place that could help teach me, it would be here.”

Mentally I did a little cartwheel. “It’ll be great to have another stallion on the team.”

Script fake yawns. “Did you want to take over my tour or what?”

“Not a chance.” I snicker. “You need more hours. I’m over by eight.”

He fake yawns again and trots boredly into the auditorium. “Seats. Lots of them. As you can see. Most every night we’re packed. Some nights we even have to set up extra chairs in the aisles.”

“Or up here!” A shout comes from the tech loft. Big Heart turns and looks up at the loft window. Blackout is grinning down at us.

“That would be the tech loft.” I say. “And that... colt... there would be Blackout.”

Blackout grins wider. “Oh look! Fresh meat!”

Big Heart looks at me startled. “Fresh.. meat..?”

I groan and grab Blackout’s broom with my magic again. “Is it swept up there? Or do I have to come check?”

The black stallion flinches and laughs. “No, Mom, it’s swept! I swear!” He takes the broom from my magic and disappears down the staircase.”

Script is rolling on the floor laughing. “Haha! His... reaction! To.. fresh meat! Haha!”

I turn to Big Heart. “Don’t mind him. You’ll soon learn everyone here has their bizarre phrases.”

Script stops laughing and hiccups a few times. “Haha... that was .. great...” He clears his throat and stands. “Whew... okay.. Behind that big black curtain there’s the backstage. Not really much there right now except a few black lights and empty boxes.”

He flies up and sweeps his hooves around. “And that’s the Manehattan School of Theatre!”

Big Heart blinks. “That’s the tour?”

I facehoof and whisper in his ear. “I’ll give you more details later. Script is... so very lazy...”

Blackout appears in the entranceway. “Script! Encore found puppets!”

The effect was ridiculous. Script apparently forgot how to fly and fell to the ground but was back up and running downstairs faster than the Wonderbolt Soarin chasing pie. Blackout runs after him, leaving Big Heart and I alone up in the auditorium.

“I’m so sorry about that.” I apologize. “Those two aren’t really known for getting a lot done...”

Big Heart gives me a soft smile. “‘Tis okay. I’m used to ponies like that. My main concern is how they will react to me, when I really start working here.”

I think a moment. “Well, I’m usually the one working all the time so you’ll actually see me pretty often. The others kind of... just turn up and mess around a lot.” I eye him. “And as long as you get your share of work done, we’ll get along well.”

I stop, realizing I rambled a little. And hadn’t actually answered him. “They’ll probably like you. I know Grand Staff likes you at least. He hired you.” I laugh.

Big Heart chuckles. “Yeah, I get the feeling that he doesn’t like many ponies.”

I laugh lightly again. “Well. He might give that impression. He’s really a sweet stallion though.” I could feel a dark look pass across my face. “If a little naive sometimes...” I shook the look from my face. “However, my work hours for today are complete. If you want, I can give you a more thorough tour or you can just wait ‘til tomorrow. You don’t actually start today. Today is meant to be almost like an orientation day.”

Big Heart gives me an excited grin. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would love an extended tour. If you aren’t too terribly busy, that is.”

I grin with a slight blush. “No, I’d be happy to.” At least this way I could stay here without those two bothering me. “Let’s go up to the tech loft first. Grand Staff will probably assign you a lot of work there.”

I turn and lead the pegasus into the lobby and up the black staircase. The tech loft is small and I sort of cram myself into the light area so he can see the different booths.

“Where I’m standing is the light controls. There’s a lot of switches but most of them are labeled so it isn’t too hard to figure out which light goes to which switch.” I point with my horn toward the soundboard. “That’s the soundboard. The computer and speakers are both hooked up to that. The volume on the computer is always on high otherwise the speakers won’t work as well...”

I continue to give him information on how the sound and light systems work, pointing to various important switches as I speak. Eventually I realize that he hasn’t said a word or asked a single question.

“Big Heart? Is this too much information at once? Do you have any questions?” I ask as I turn and look at him.

The pegasus is staring at me smiling. “No, I think I’ve got it.” He says kindly.

I stare a moment at his blue eyes then smile. “Awesome! Shall we continue downstairs?”

As we head down to the basement I decide to learn a little more about Big Heart. “So, tell me about yourself. As you can see, this job includes a lot of close spaces so it’s best to know ponies. What made you want to work here?”

Big Heart gulps, looking away. “Well, like I said, I have always enjoyed acting. I wanted to get involved more in it, and I thought that here would be a good place to learn.” He shuffles his hooves.

I sense a change in his attitude. I figure I’m just misreading him. “Well. This is the best theatre school in Manehattan, so you picked a great place.” We reached the bottom of the stairs. “Just be careful of drama. That happens a lot around here...”

Big Heart looks at me curiously. “What do you mean? Wouldn't that be normal, considering that this is a theatre?”

It was my turn to shift uncomfortably. There were some things about the theatre that he probably shouldn’t know yet. “Well, the drama between actors and actresses is normal, but there’s drama between workers that .. really shouldn’t exist. But it happens. So...”

I hate how I start to stammer a little when I get nervous. Big Heart seemed like a gentle stallion. I didn’t want to scare him out of his job on his first day. He looked at me with concern, but didn’t press the issue.

I clear my throat. “For a different topic, this is the basement. The costumes and dressing rooms are down that corridor to the left and the props and paints are down that corridor to the right. All the doors are labeled so it’s difficult to get lost down here.” I glance around. The downstairs is empty of ponies. “There were four other workers here... where did they go...?”

Script comes trotting out from the right corridor.

“Script, where is everypony?”

He shrugs. “Encore and Half Note left when Blackout and I came down here. Blackout disappeared on me. Probably hiding in the mares dressing room again.”

I growl. “Blackout.....” I turn to Big Heart. “Well, you know your way around now. As I said, you don’t have to start work today considering Grand Staff isn’t here to tell you what needs to be done. I have to go find Blackout....”

I mutter as I stalk angrily into the left corridor. “...probably painting faces on the lightbulbs again...”

Then I realize leaving Big Heart alone with Script was probably the worst thing I could have done.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Script smirks at Moonsung as she stomps into the dressing rooms. “She’s so pushy sometimes. Hard to believe she’s the top actress ‘round here.”

I have to control myself. If I tell him what I want to, I’m more than likely to be fired before I even officially start. So, instead of telling him off, I paste a smile on my face. “What do you mean, ‘pushy’?”

Script laughs. “She acts like she runs the place. Bossing everypony around.” He nods toward where Moonsung disappeared. “Mare’s got a nice flank though.”

I swallow, hard. I put on the best neutral expression I can. In all reality, I want to go off on this guy. “Don’t you think that’s kinda rude?”

Script laughs again and knocks me in the shoulder with his hoof. “Careful, you reek of new guy. Everypony here knows Moonsung has the best flank, despite her attitude. Seriously. She’s like a sexy mother that followed you to work.” He walks past me and out the exit door on the side. “Good luck with her!”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding in. I think I know what Moonsung was referring to when she mentioned the drama that goes on here. I look over at the hallway that Moonsung went down. I want to go talk to her, but with how worked up I am over Script, and his attitude, it would be best if I went home for the day. I look down the hallway for just a second longer, then turn and head up the stairs. This is going to be a harder job than I thought...