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
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