Cerebral Sparkle

by Joseph Raszagal

Rating: everyone
Tags:
Length: 1055

All it takes sometimes is one failed assignment.

All it takes sometimes is one failed assignment.

~ ~ ~

Rated Teen for disturbing imagery.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-20 04:32:26 UTC

Act Two: The Waiting Game

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

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Act Two: The Waiting Game

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Act Three: Just as I Feared

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

~

Act Three: Just as I Feared

~

Act Four: My Own Worst Enemy

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

~

Act Four: My Own Worst Enemy

~

[Enter Twilight from stage left to stand at center stage, the lights dimmed as she shuffles nervously in place. Two staccato violins plays at a high and breakneck pace, their rhythm accented by the low rumbling of a lone cello.]

The mirror

I can see myself in the mirror

But it's not me

The voice

I can hear myself screaming in my head

But it's not me

I'm not my own worst enemy

[Enter Dark Twilight from stage right to join the original in center stage, her features drained of all color. Taking Twilight's hooves in her own, Dark Twilight stands on her rear legs and begins to lead the two into a blindingly fast pirouetting dance.]

The things she says

I would never say

I'd never give those thoughts

The time of day

And who is she to point hooves,

Anyway?

No matter what she shouts

I'm not a failure

I won't let her distract me

No matter how right she seems

I know I can do this

I won't let her consume me

No, I'm not my own worst enemy

[The two Twilights continue to spin and twirl in time with each other all about the stage, a running piano joining the maddening pace set by the strings.]

I'm smarter than this

These problems are simple to solve

I'm better than this

She can't break my resolve

Wait a second

Did that one come out right?

No matter, that's fine

I still have all night

She starts laughing

But I don't listen

She's just trying to confuse me

My head starts pounding

But I don't pay attention

It's not enough to discourage me

Because I'm not my own worst enemy!

[The two mares part hooves and dace their way to opposite ends of the stage, gracefully spinning on their rear hooves and dipping into a low dive forward to return to each other. Standing on their hind legs, they both take their partner's hooves in their own once more and resume their duet dance.]

Another equation wrong

I hate it when my quill slips

I go to scratch it out

And the whole paper rips

Slamming a hoof in frustration

I tip over my inkpot

The black fluid drips down on the carpet

To form a dark blot

Her laughter doubles

Echoing loud in my head

But she won't get the best of me

She might be in my mind

Dominating my thoughts

But I control the rest of me

AND I'M NOT MY OWN WORST ENEMY!

[As the music builds to a sharp screech, the sound of a pane of glass shattering echoes throughout the theater. Dark Twilight twirls the original Twilight one final time before letting go in mid arc and sending the purple mare sprawling to the floor at center stage. Impacting harshly, Twilight touches a hoof to her muzzle and winces in pain, pulling it away to find it bloodied. Six additional Dark Twilights enter from stages left and right.]

I flail a hoof and smash the mirror

The glass cracks and splits seven ways

The mocking then multiples septuple times

A crowd of shrill, giggling brays

I clutch my head and close my eyes

My heart pounds a marathon in my chest

The hyenas' laughter drowns out every thought

Despite all of my efforts best

In between their howls

They all sing aloud

Joining hooves, delivering a prophecy

I curl into a ball

Blood running cold

As they roar my life's destiny

THAT I'M MY OWN WORST ENEMY!

[Bowing her head, Twilight sinks to her haunches and begins weeping quietly as the lights dim to total darkness.]

I can't

I'm not

I won't

[Amid the shadows, the Dark Twilights all form a circle and surround the crying mare. Their voices quietly reverberate across the theater as one.]

You can

You are

And you will...

[End scene.]

Intermission: Slipping Grades

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

~

Intermission: Slipping Grades

~

I used to be the student at the peak

And now my grades are slipping

It's been happening all week

In every class, my grades keep slipping

Mental gears slowed to a creak

I can't stop my grades from slipping

Down, down, down

The steepest slope

With nothing to gasp at

No steps, no rope

And the creeping feeling

Devoid of hope

That maybe more than my grades are slipping

Prologue: Hard Homework

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

~

Prologue: Hard Homework

~

The teacher's voice echoes in my head

"I want this by tomorrow morning," he said

But this problem I can't seem to finish

The sun sets with no answer in sight

Scratched out scribbles filling the page

My writing devolving into chickenscratch

Eyelids betraying me, drooping down tiredly

And before I can even think

The sun's back up the next time I blink

Act One: Exhausted and Incomplete

Cerebral Sparkle

A pony stage production as performed by the fine actors and actresses of the Raszagal Troupe

~

Act One: Exhausted and Incomplete

~

[Twilight Sparkle, apprentice to Princess Celestia, enters from stage right and begins pacing back and forth as she approaches front stage. Muttering to herself, the purple mare tries and fails several times to smooth out her shocked and frazzled mane.]

I approach my classroom slowly

The first bell ringing lowly

Ironic that it's to be my death knell

The other students all watch me

All too clear that they can see

My unfinished work, yes, they can tell

A migraine surges through my head

My limbs carrying the weight of lead

Impromptu sleep offering no real rest