open Shining Star Festival

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,@@Wolves, 

 

Nightlight couldn't help but chuckle and smirk at how she was behaving, but his attention soon turned to the show, paying attention to the amazing birds flying around and how the ponies handled them and controlled them. His mind was simply dazed with all the colours as he watched in silence.

 

Eventually though he turned his head lightly to the earth pony next to him. "Is really no problem. I'm just glad I didn't actually end up bumping into you or I would fear the wrath that would have been bestowed upon me. " Offering her a warm innocent smile and chuckle he returned his attention to the fancy show going on, having his fun on the side toying with her. It was his open character, he couldn't help it.   

Edited July 25, 2016 by The Nightly Spectre

[Denim&Venöm 22,097]

@@Wolves,

 

"Hmm? What's going on here?." Ruby watched, pausing in her pursuit of the performers area to watch the aerial display of Pegasus and avian. One performer commanding exotic birds who's feathers covered all the known spectrum of color. Two different creatures with the same wings sharing the skies. "Wow. I must admit, that is kind of pretty." 

[AzureNightLight 122]

@@Unicorncob, @@Wolves

Azure levitated three bits and placed them on the table.

 

A faint voice floated over the top of the stalls. "First of all, I'd like to say, welcome everypony! And I do hope you enjoy this first act of the evening." The first act? Azure's eyes widened. Shoot! It's starting!

[Unicorncob 5,779]

Azure levitated three bits and placed them on the table.

 

A faint voice floated over the top of the stalls. "First of all, I'd like to say, welcome everypony! And I do hope you enjoy this first act of the evening."

 

Cipolla nodded and took the bits in her magic, and hovered the tray of lasagna to Azure. "Tanks, enjoy."

 

Her ear flicked as she too overheard the announcement. She nonchalantly walked to the front of her stall to get a better view of the main stage.

 

 

"We'll begin with a wonderful performance from the beautifully colourful, dazzlingly vibrant, birds of paradise, from all across Equestria (and possibly even beyond)!" Golden Spell waved his hoof as Cyan Flare just finished wheeling the cages of the amazing birds onto the stage. For a split second she stood, intimidated by the mass of eager ponies with their eyes fixated on the stage she stood upon. Shaking her head slightly to clear her mind, Cyan let the joy of the event take over.

She opened the doors and the birds gracefully flew out, soaring high up at her command and flying above the audience as Golden adjusted the positioning of the spotlight to set their brilliant feathers aglow in the night sky. Cyan shot after them, gesturing with her hooves to give the vivid birds commands to maneuver, spiral, and turn to show off. As she, too, beat her wings in time to the music playing softly in the background, Cyan Flare glanced down to the audience in order to try and catch a glimpse of their reaction and what they thought of the performance so far. Golden wore a grin on his face, therefore she assumed that he considered things to be going well presently.

 

She watched as the tropical birds filled the sky in brilliant colours, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of it.

 

Not many things impressed her enough to get a physical reaction, but this came really close.

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla focused her attention on the performance as a pony on-stage wheeled some birds from backstage. She watched as the birds were set free and performed amazing tricks. The light made their feathers glow like Skyla has never seen. "Wow, it's amazing," she said to no one in particular as a grin spread across her face. The Festival was already exceeding her expectations.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Unicorncob, @@AzureNightLight, @@Denim&Venom, @, @@Glitter Glue, @@Midnight Starfall

The birds of paradise continued to turn gracefully in the air, their vibrant colours shining. After a minute more, they perched on the the artificial branches Golden Spell had set up a short while earlier and looked to be taking a bow. Cyan rounded them up and placed them all gently back in their cages, waving to the audience as many ponies' eye lit up with awe. 'It's going well!' she thought excitedly. 'It's actually going really well'

 

"Followed by that wonderful performance from the amazing birds of paradise, we have something quite different..." Golden Spell announced. "The ferocious lion... raised from birth as a friendly performer, enjoying being up on stage for all ponies to see! Welcome, Cosmo!"

A large male lion stepped out of his cage, hackles raised and face twisted in a hostile snarl. Golden glanced nervously over to Cyan Flare, who stroked the big cat's mane calmly. Cyan mouthed 'he's just nervous,' to her brother, then lead Cosmo to the front of the stage.

"It's alright, I know it's scary, though," she told the lion in a hushed voice, like he could understand her. Her tone seemed to have an effect, though. "Just do everything you usually do."

Cosmo gazed out over the audience, then at Cyan's command he let out a mighty roar which seemed to shake the stage. They continued to perform more tricks, almost like a trainer and her dog, until Cosmo slipped up once when Cyan accidentally mixed up two adjurations. He looked more nervous now, but Cyan cheered him on enthusiastically, and Cosmo continued again, once again enjoying the routine performance.

 

As soon as Cosmo had completed his performance, Golden and Cyan prepared to introduce the final animals of the night.

[AzureNightLight 122]

@@Wolves,

Azure took the lasagne in her magic and quickly flashed a grin along with a 'Thanks!' before galloping off in the general direction of the stage. She arrived just in time to see a pony wheeling something on stage. Good! I haven't missed out on too much. She found a spot in between a mare and a stallion and began to enjoy the show.

[Glitter Glue 79]

"Oh, come on, I'm not that easy to anger..." Lavender muttered. "Or, I mean usually..."

She seemed to want to continue, but the pony on stage announced the next animal on the show. A lion! Despite all of her travels, Lavender never saw a lion before. She looked at the stage in awe, as the majestic animal stepped forward.

"Doesn't he look beautiful?" she said quietly, more to herself than anypony else. The way the light danced on his golden fur didn't allow Lavender to look away.

[Unicorncob 5,779]

@@Wolves

 

Cipolla continued to watch the stage from a distance, becoming even more absorbed into the performance when the lion stepped onto the stage.

 

A lion? Where the heck'd they find one of those? Not bad.

 

She watched the lion perform tricks with expert precision with one of the tamers, though she caught it had messed up here and there.

 

Either that thing's scared, or it's new to this.

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,@@Wolves,

 

Seeing as she paused while he listened in to what she was saying Nightlight also turned his head to the stage, noticing the lion and a single nerve in his spine straightened him out. It was quite a ferocious beast... It may have been tame but his very tense guard side tonight made sure he would doubt that a bit just in case something were to actually go wrong.

 

If the pony next to him would have noticed the tension he was going through if she looked, a very uncertain one at that, almost a phobia as the guard kept his sight locked tight on the lion, assuming a bit firmer position.

 

Part of him felt an almost unnatural fear as the lion roared, clearly not too fond. Another question raised in his mind where did they get a lion in the first place... probably some sort of zoo was what he thought.  And even as the lion performed various tricks making it feel indeed tame and somewhat cute Nightlight kept up his mysteriously clicked stance. But by the end of it he still loosened out, looking at the mare after her comment for a short second before returning his gaze to the lion. 

 

"Yes... it does. " He replied to her, clearly having lost his earlier friendly thought. 

 

"...Very.. Exquisite. " He then followed up a bit more quieter, also seemingly more to himself but enough for another pony to hear. "One can only wonder what is next.." 

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla watched as the performers brought out a lion. Skyla was never downright afraid of animals, but she wasn't too fond of them either. She visibly flinched as the lion let out a piercing roar. Although the roar put her on edge, she watched the lion and its trainer perform amazing tricks in awe. "Wow..," she said aloud.

[Glitter Glue 79]

@, @@Wolves

"You don't seem too like the show so much..." Lavender said with a confused look "Do you have something against lions?"

She couldn't understand what happened to make the stallion so... unenthusiastic. The lion was so beautiful, and Lavender thought anypony should be more than happy to get to see one right there in front of their eyes. Especially in such a spectacular show! Sure thing, the lion (or the trainer), did make a few mistakes, but that really didn't deprive from the beauty of the wild animal standing in the spot light. Even though she did not understand what the stallion could be thinking, she had to agree with his last statement. She couldn't imagine what could come as the last animal on the show.

"Maybe a dragon!" was her weak attempt at a guess.

Edited July 27, 2016 by Glitter Glue

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,

 

"Back in my teens my way younger brother got into a lion pen in the zoo. It didn't end too well for him. " Nightlight simply replied, still keeping his eyes locked on the beast on the stage. Memories lightly flooded his mind of that time now that he spoke of it. "Left him hospitalized for a month but he came out of it rather fine. " 

 

Loosening out a bit he still kept his eyes locked on the lion. "So, it is just a personal bad memory. We all have those incidents that shape us once in a while don't we? Mine happened to have a lion in it. " 

 

He then gave a light chuckle. "Though, that is not the only problem my younger brother caused me. " Feeling a lot more at ease but still ready he then turned to the mare. "So, I've been wondering what an earth pony mare would be doing in a wizards hat earlier. You some sort of illusionist? " His memory with the hat connected two and two when he saw her wearing it a lot earlier before they bumped in. It was part of Nightlights mind, remembering a tiny detail in a crowd and then connecting two memories together. 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Glitter Glue, @, @@Midnight Starfall,

 

 

Copper was watching the performance with a skeptically interested expression.  He wondered how this was going to work out between the lion and the performer.

 

He looked at the ponies conversing with each other before looking back at the show.  He already had a few songs planned out for his performance, and he couldn't wait to show them.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@DwhitetheGamer, @, @@Glitter Glue, @@Midnight Starfall, @@Denim&Venom,@@Unicorncob, @@AzureNightLight

 

"Okay, so this is the big finale..." Cyan gently told the animals backstage in a hushed tone. "This is major, so you all have to work together or else this won't go too well!"

"And, for the finale of the first performance of this spectacular night... Please welcome..." she heard Golden Spell announce from up on the stage. Quickly wheeling each heavy cage on behind him one after the other, Cyan took several deep breathes and muttered nervously under her breath. She prayed that she would not mess up again!

 

"The majestic eagle; the swift falcon; the precise hawk; the wondrous fruit bats!" Golden Spell introduced the four species of animals as they took center stage and put on a performance beginning with moves somewhat resembling those of the birds of paradise. Cyan Flare then suddenly soared up high, directing the falcon, then landed back on the stage and picked up a pole attached to a metal hoop. The hoop suddenly shot up in flames, and the falcon took that as its signal to fold it's wings in against its sides and dive downwards at full speed. It glided through the ring, spreading its wings at the last second and then flying back up into the night sky again. The stunt was repeated three times, the hoop getting a little smaller with each flight, and torches of flames being lit up around the stage. The fruit bats flew in colorful patterns, and the eagle pulled off stunts in the air, followed by the hawk. At Cyan's command, though, every bird and bat headed backstage after a few minutes, accompanied by Golden Spell so that he could close them all back into their enclosures for safekeeping while his sister continued.

'Damn...' she thought. 'He said he'd do all of the talking... Suppose we didn't take into account his part of the show when we agreed on that.'

"Thank you everypony for watching, and I hope y-you enjoyed the first act of this evening!" Cyan stuttered, managing to utter her short speech which had been rehearsed. Stripes, the lemur from earlier, suddenly emerged from her already rather scruffy pink and blue mane, perching atop her head like a tree branch. Cyan giggled at her, silently thanking the lemur that she had done what her owner had requested for once, then took a bow as Golden Spell appeared right beside her in a hurry. The two exchanged a nervous glance, acknowledging that everything hadn't quite gone to plan.

"Thank you sincerely everyone," Golden called as the siblings headed off backstage.

 

"You are next, yes?" Golden Spell said to Copper Strikes, remembering the order that had been planned for the night. "Good luck."

[Unicorncob 5,779]

@@Wolves

 

Cipolla kept watching, becoming more and more absorbed into the performance. She always liked animals, but seeing them perform so elegantly was such a marvel. Her eyes widened as she watched the falcon fly through the burning hoop with masterful precision.

 

Dat's so cool...!

 

The fruit bats, hawk and eagle also had her attention. They looked so amazing, flying and taking over the sky like they did.

 

She couldn't help but applaud the performers as they left the stage, and she returned behind her stall with the tiniest grin on her face.

[Glitter Glue 79]

@

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Lavender said quietly. "I didn't mean to bring back bad memories."

But she soon shook her head and grinned to reply to the stallion's question. She was more than eager to find a different topic after all.

"Well, I'm a magician! I host the coolest and most eye-catching magic show on this festival, I assure you of that" her voice switched over into her stage-tone, as she continued: "I'm Lavender Moment, the Pastel Witch, the magician without a horn! My act is amazing, mesmerizing, magnificent and absolutely positively magical!"

With that she released a tiny giggle before continuing in a more personal voice:

"Well, definitely magical for an earth pony like me, at the least. Really though, it's all just a colourful collection of tricks that an average pony will never figure out."

 

@@Wolves

She got so lost in describing her show, that she absolutely forgot about what she was watching at the moment, only glancing at the stage when she heard "fruit bats". She did have a thing for animals associated with witches. Such as black cats, crows, and of course bats. And since bats were on the stage, she decided to do keep an eye on their vivid dance. But this time she did not get absolutely absorbed in the show like before, she did not want to come off as unfriendly. and she honestly was a little interested in the guard's reaction to her description of her show.

Edited July 27, 2016 by Glitter Glue

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla felt a little relieved as the lion finished it's performance and went backstage. She still thought highly of the performance so far. She watched as the performers wheeled an eagle, a hawk, and fruit bats on stage.

 

"Wow, they're all so cool!" she said as they started performing tricks. She especially liked the falcon swooping down into the fiery hoop. A small part of her really liked daredevil flying tricks, but she could never do that herself.

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,@@Wolves,

 

Having raised a brow as she described what she did. Nightlight was honestly surprised... and in a very good way. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long long long white. 

 

In the meantime his mind multi-tasked between keeping an eye on the show aswell as on the mare. 

 

"Earth Pony magician? Pastel Witch? I must say now you have my full attention. " As much as it was kind of a lie when he said she had his full attention as he kept looking at the show. Though, quite honestly what was going on next didn't interest him as much. It may have been pretty and everything but with the exception of the bird flying through the flaming hoops the rest just felt ever too blunt to him as he had seen animal shows before... But the pony next to him was something a lot more special. 

 

"In that case I am honoured to meet such a unique performer. And seeing as you have introduced yourself... I'm Nightlight - a boring, spoiled stallion. " He smirked and chuckled as he presented himself offering her a light bow as he soon followed up with what was going on at the stage, clapping his hooves as the show came to an end as he continued talking to her once things died down. "So, would it be much to ask to know where and when I would be able to find that... 'amazing, mesmerizing, magnificent and absolutely positively magical' performance of yours?" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Wolves, @, @@Midnight Starfall,

 

 

Copper nodded at Golden as he was mentioned being next, and got up from his seated position, trotting to the stage, but not before looking back at his fellow performers and giving them a nod.

 

"Next up!"  The announcer said as the noise died down.  "Copper Strikes of Ponyville will be singing three songs for you all.  So get ready for some music!"

 

The crowd cheered as Copper took the stage, standing behind a mic as he prepared himself to sing.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Wolves, @, @@Midnight Starfall,

 

 

Copper nodded at Golden as he was mentioned being next, and got up from his seated position, trotting to the stage, but not before looking back at his fellow performers and giving them a nod.

 

"Next up!"  The announcer said as the noise died down.  "Copper Strikes of Ponyville will be singing three songs for you all.  So get ready for some music!"

 

The crowd cheered as Copper took the stage, standing behind a mic as he prepared himself to sing.

Cyan Flare waved to Copper as he took to the stage, preparing to sing. She did not know him all that well, but from what she could tell so far, he was a nice pony.

"Well..." she said to Golden Spell once Copper Strikes stepped onto the stage. "That could have gone a little better..."

"Why, I think it went well," Golden replied. "There were bound to be one or two miscalculations throughout, especially with us - you, and the animals - being as nervous as that. Do not worry, you did exceedingly well in my eyes. And the eyes of the audience, I do think."

Cyan smiled and then let her gaze drift to focus on the stage. She couldn't wait to hear what kind of music Copper Strikes would sing.

[Unicorncob 5,779]

Cipolla, meanwhile, tended to her stall, serving customers as they came along. Business was starting to really pick up, now that the place was opened to the public.

 

"Dat's seven bits."

"How much extra cheese did yous want?"

"I'm gonna need a few minutes to get dis started."

 

It was the daily grind, really. And she was happy with it.

 

But of course, there was always that one customer who was not satisfied with anything they got. This time, it was a local stallion.

"What kinda pizza do you call this?" He barked at the mare. "It's too hot and I can fit the whole thing in my one hoof!"

 

And if there was one thing Cipolla did not tolerate, it was stupid complaints.

"Uh, yeah, it's supposed to be hot, genius," she snarked, "and I had to downsize it so yous can carry it around better."

 

"If I wanted something like this, I would've just made my own at home instead of wasting two bits! And you call yourself one of Manehattan's best chefs."

 

"Then why don'tcha go do dat and stop wastin' everypony's time? I got customers who actually wanna eat somethin', so if you'll kindly either gimme two bits or gimme dat pizza back, and slink back into whatever rat hole ya squirmed your dumb plot outta."

 

The stallion grumbled and slammed two bits on the table before storming off.

 

Cipolla smirked and happily took them into her cash box. "Tank you. Next?"

[Glitter Glue 79]

@@Your Nightly Spectre

Lavender answered with a confused look:

"You don't seem spoiled. Nor boring at that. If anypony, I'm the one who is spoiled." She seemed said the last part with a proud grin, even though she didn't quite know what she was proud of.

 

She gave a small smile before continuing:

"My first show this week is tomorrow evening at 8:00 pm, at the magicians' stage. I'd be quite happy if you showed up. Also, my tent is open during most of the festival,it's near the magicians' stage. I'll be doing less spectacular tricks there. Still pretty spectacular, though."

 

@@DwhitetheGamer

As the announcer called the next performer up to the stage, Lavender looked up. She was rather happy to hear it was a singer, her eyes were getting a little tired from watching such a bright and colourful show as the previous. She definitely wasn't used to being on the watching side of performances.

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,@@DwhitetheGamer,

Nightlight couldn't bother but smile as the mare essentially complimented him. 

 

"Maybe we'll have to find out who is the more spoiled one in that case. " He grinned back, taking a quick look around as was the nature of the job before returning his attention to her. 

 

"Quite a shame that I'll be needing to wait that long for the big show. But I'll gladly stumble along by your tent sometime and check out those lesser tricks. " He mindslapped himself for a moment at how wrong that sounded in a way combined with his forward attitude and grinny smile. Why can't I ever talk to a mare normally without it seeming like I'm hitting on her... Or is it just that I'm just always hitting on mares and I should try not to do that. He thought to himself before paying his attention to the main show for a moment to see a singer. 

 

"So, where are you from in Equestria?" He asked without tearing his eyes from the stage. 

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Glitter Glue, @@DwhitetheGamer, @@Unicorncob, While waiting for Copper Strikes' performance to begin, Cyan Flare felt a slight rumble in her stomach.

"Are you hungry?" Golden Spell asked; obviously, he's heard it.

"Yeah," Cyan nodded. "You want anything to eat? I'm off to go get something real quick, before Copper performs."

"Oh, yes... do you have any idea what kind of cuisine the caterer of this fine event sells?" Golden replied.

"Well, I know you like lasagna. There was plenty of that."

Golden nodded; "lasagna it is."

 

Cyan took to the sky and flew at a steady pace over to where she remembered the catering tent was. She landed outside and noticed that the line had now gone down. Looking over her shoulder, Cyan could see everypony heading once again over to the main stage to see the next act. Stepping into the tent, greeting Cipolla with a shy but friendly wave of her left hoof, she looked over all of the food that was for sale.

"Could I have two... lasagnas, please?" Cyan requested, with a slight nervous pause.