open Shining Star Festival

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Glitter Glue, @@Wolves, @@Your Nightly Spectre,

 

 

Copper cleared his throat, and got ready to sing his first song.  He nodded at the backstage pony, who gave the clear to play music.

 

(Cue, If you only Knew by Shinedown)

 

"If you only knew,

I'm hanging by a thread the web I spin for you.

If you only knew,

I'd sacrifice my beating heart before I lose you.

I still hold on to the letters

You returned, I swear I lived and learned!

 

It's four-oh-three, and I can't sleep,

Without you next to me, I toss and turn like the sea.

If I drown tonight, bring me back to life.

Breathe your breath in me, the only thing that I still

Believe in is you, If you only knew!

 

If you only knew,

How many times i counted all the words that went wrong.

If you only knew,

How I refuse to let you go even when you're gone.

I don't regret any days I spent,

Nights we shared, or letters that I sent!

 

It's four-oh-three, and I can't sleep,

Without you next to me, I toss and turn like the sea.

If I drown tonight, bring me back to life.

Breathe your breath in me, the only thing that I still

 

Believe in is you, If you only knew!

 

If you only knew!

 

I still hold on to the letters,

You returned, you've helped me live and learn.

 

It's four-oh-three, and I can't sleep,

Without you next to me, I toss and turn like the sea.

If I drown tonight, bring me back to life.

Breathe your breath in me, the only thing that I still

Believe in is you, believe in is you.

I still believe in you!

Whoa-oh oh oh oh ooh,

 

If you only knew."

 

Copper was finished with his singing, then bowed gracefully.  The crowd cheered, and he got himself ready for the next song.

[Unicorncob 5,704]

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.

 

Cipolla glanced up from her oven, and a small smile entered her muzzle as she nodded to Cyan. She walked over to the hotplate and levitated two trays from the side. "Two lasagnas, got it. Dat'll be six bits."

 

She daintily set the two pasta dishes on each tray, and glanced up at the mare. "Nice work with ya animals, really liked dat lion of yours. Ya get your lemur back alright?"

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Skyla jerked awake as she heard the ending of a song. She shook her head and looked up to see a performer finishing his song. "Oh no, I fell asleep," she said, half-awake and angry with herself. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, noticing a larger crowd in front of her than there was before.

 

"I hope I didn't miss the whole performance," she said as she now focused her attention on the stage.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Unicorncob Cyan rummaged around in her bag for a few seconds, then handed Cipolla the six bits.

"Thank you," she said in response to her compliment on the performance. "Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, I found the lemur: Stripes."

Hearing Copper's song begin, Cyan Flare quickly picked up the two lasagnas and waved goodbye to Cipolla. She didn't want to miss this, and even from a slight distance away, it sounded wonderful.

"Thank you!" Cyan said to Cipolla with a small smile, before she headed out of the tent.

 

By the time Cyan had arrived back at the stage next to Golden Spell, Copper Strikes had finished his first song and looked to be preparing to begin the next.

"Two lasagnas!" Cyan nudged her brother, seemingly shocking him. He soon took one dish gratefully from his sister, then turned back to face the stage again.

"Thank you," he said.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Wolves

[Unicorncob 5,704]

Cyan rummaged around in her bag for a few seconds, then handed Cipolla the six bits.

"Thank you," she said in response to her compliment on the performance. "Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, I found the lemur: Stripes."

Hearing Copper's song begin, Cyan Flare quickly picked up the two lasagnas and waved goodbye to Cipolla. She didn't want to miss this, and even from a slight distance away, it sounded wonderful.

"Thank you!" Cyan said to Cipolla with a small smile, before she headed out of the tent.

 

Cipolla nodded and took the six bits, plopping them in the cash box behind her. "Tanks."

 

She couldn't help but smirk at the lemur's name. "Well, it ain't false advertisin'. And yer lucky it didn't eat or climb all over my food." She half-joked.

 

Her ear flicked as she heard the singer's act starting, but she simply stayed behind her hotplate and waved to Cyan as she took off.

 

She could hear the music fine from where she was. Didn't need eyes to listen, after all.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Unicorncob, @@Wolves, @@Midnight Starfall, @@Your Nightly Spectre, @@Glitter Glue,

 

 

Copper smiled at the crowd, then said, "This next song is one that I've also made up, and it's called 'Live Life.'  I hope you enjoy."

 

He then cleared his throat and, when the music started, he began to sing.

 

"Take a look inside your heart
What once seemed fair today
Tomorrow it may not
Just a walk or a journey
Don't stop reaching high
Don't let the time pass you by

So many ways that you can try to forget
So many ways you'll find you wake up to regret

Someday, one day we'll say live life I know
Hold on hold tight
Don't let go don't lose sight

 

Feeling like the road
Is winding you on every turn
But there are lessons to learn
Take a look inside your heart
What once seemed impossible
Today is not

Someday, one day we'll say live life I know
Hold on hold tight
Don't let go

I can't imagine, I can't imagine
Making it on your own
You've got inside, you've got it inside of you...
So let it out...!

Someday, one day we'll say live life I know
Hold on hold tight
Don't let go just live life

Live Life...
Don't let go...

Live Life...
Live Life!"

 

Copper once again was finished singing, and the crowd cheered again.  He bowed to them, and got himself ready for his last song.

[Glitter Glue 79]

@@Your Nightly Spectre

"Speaking of my tent... I may have forgotten something.." Lavender's face grew worried as she tried to remember what her tent just reminded her of. Suddenly, her eyes widened with realization: she left her cat back in her caravan! The poor kitten has been there since she started setting her tent up, and it was long past his dinner time too. No matter how much Lavender wanted to stay and chat, she knew the cat needed her more.

"I'm- I'm sorry, my assistant needs to be fed." Lavender said, not really thinking about her wording. Even while saying this, she was ready to sprint off to her caravan. When she finished her sentence, she took off only to stop after a few steps:

"Talk to you later!" she forced a smile on her face before galloping off.

 

Finally reaching the caravan,she quickly opened the door, only to find the cat sleeping peacefully. She may have been a little too worried. Even so, the cat must have been hungry already, so Lavender started preparing his dinner as quietly as she could, trying not to wake her "assistant" up from his peaceful slumber.

[redaxted 1,765]

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

 

Cyan Flare clapped her hoofs together, applauding Copper Strikes on his amazing performance.

"It would be wonderful to be able to sing like that..." Golden Spell remarked wistfully out of the blue.

"You've never mentioned anything like that before," Cyan replied, raising an eyebrow. "He is great, though."

"Well, it has always been more of a second thought, really. I would revel in the spotlight... Although that is not for me entirely."

Cyan nodded, understanding, then looked over her shoulder at all of the animals. "They're getting restless, I'm going to put them back in their larger enclosures."

Without a word, Golden also got to his hoofs and began to help his sister with wheeling every portable animal cage back to their tent. Plenty of them were, indeed, seeming a little jumpy and impatient, evidently not enjoying their time spent in these smaller spaces.

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Skyla clapped for the singer from her place under the tree. She loved the song he sung. While she just wanted to sit there and watch the performances, her whole body felt stiff. She got up, stretched her limbs and wings, and decided to take a walk.

 

She wandered throughout the festival, looking at the booths and seeing many performers setting up. "It would be so cool to have a flight show. Or something that really compliments the night sky," Skyla thought aloud as she aimlessly wandered the festival.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Skyla clapped for the singer from her place under the tree. She loved the song he sung. While she just wanted to sit there and watch the performances, her whole body felt stiff. She got up, stretched her limbs and wings, and decided to take a walk.

 

She wandered throughout the festival, looking at the booths and seeing many performers setting up. "It would be so cool to have a flight show. Or something that really compliments the night sky," Skyla thought aloud as she aimlessly wandered the festival.

Cyan Flare walked carefully backwards, picking her way around guests, performers and staff alike as she pulled the final cage, containing the lion, back towards the tent. This was a heavy one, and Golden Spell was pushing from the other end.

"Cyan, look out; the land slopes a littl-" Golden began, warning his sister - but it was too late. Cyan began to stumble a little as she suddenly found herself pushing the lion's cage back up slightly and accidentally bumping into the pony behind her. The pegasus had a dark purple coat, complimented by a light, greyish blue and purple mane and tail.

"I'm so sorry!" Cyan couldn't apologize enough as she stabilized the cage again and made her way down to the flatter ground just meters away.

Edited August 26, 2016 by Wolves

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla was lost in thought as somepony bumped into her. She heard the pony apologize many times. Skyla turned around and gave her a smile. "It's fine! It's no trou-," Skyla paused as she saw the lion cage they were handling. She was already wary of it on-stage; she never imagined coming this close to a lion. "Oh my gosh, I'm r-really sorry I was in your way..," she stuttered. She instinctively had her wings around her as if they were a shield.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla was lost in thought as somepony bumped into her. She heard the pony apologize many times. Skyla turned around and gave her a smile. "It's fine! It's no trou-," Skyla paused as she saw the lion cage they were handling. She was already wary of it on-stage; she never imagined coming this close to a lion. "Oh my gosh, I'm r-really sorry I was in your way..," she stuttered. She instinctively had her wings around her as if they were a shield.

Golden Spell could see that the pony they had run into was rather shocked at the sight of the lion cage Cyan and him had been wheeling away from the main stage.

"It's alright," he instantly said to her with a reassuring tone. "He's very friendly, for a lion."

Cyan nodded and demonstrated by squeezing her hoof between two bars of the cage and petting the big cat on the top of his head.

"The only real reason they're in here is to ensure they don't run away. Like the mischievous lemur," she said with the closest thing to a nervous smile she could muster up.

Edited August 26, 2016 by Wolves

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla, reassured, folded back her wings. Watching Cyan pet the lion so casually, she said, "Wow, you guys must be really good with animals. I really liked your performance, especially the fruit bats and the colorful birds. I'll admit, I'm not too fond of animals..."

 

Skyla looked at the lion in the cage. He didn't look as scary as when he roared on-stage, but it still made her uneasy to be this close to him.

[Unicorncob 5,704]

Cipolla let out a small yawn as she kept tending to her stall, exchanging small foods to patrons for bits. She was making quite a tidy sum, and it'd make some good pocket change.

 

Not that she needed the money. Her restaurant was plenty successful, not to mention her... extracurricular activities.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla, reassured, folded back her wings. Watching Cyan pet the lion so casually, she said, "Wow, you guys must be really good with animals. I really liked your performance, especially the fruit bats and the colorful birds. I'll admit, I'm not too fond of animals..."

 

Skyla looked at the lion in the cage. He didn't look as scary as when he roared on-stage, but it still made her uneasy to be this close to him.

Golden Spell smiled confidently and with good humour, then said, "well, that is alright. Not everypony does."

"Glad to hear you loved the birds of paradise and the fruit bats," Cyan Flare said, mirroring her brother's expression but with a little more nervousness - as usual. "They are extremely wonderful creatures. And thank you; it was difficult to befriend all of them, though... although they are all so lovely."

Golden nodded, then turned back to the lion. He was bouncing from paw to paw impatiently, evidently not enjoying a second of his time spent in the smaller enclosure. Pity welled up inside him, but he reassured the big cat that he would soon be free to run about again in his much larger pen back at the tent.

"I suppose we should get going now, Cyan," Golden said, shifting his gaze back to the two pegasi. He noted that he was pacing in a similar fashion to the lion by now.

"Yes, sorry," Cyan said, being tugged from her drifting thoughts back into reality by her brother's words and apologising once again to the pegasus that they had run into. "We might see you later... Skyla, isn't it?"

Edited August 27, 2016 by Wolves

[Glitter Glue 79]

Finally Lavender finished cooking the meat and fish she had bought for the cat, and gently woke him up.

"Look, friend, here is your dinner." with that, she placed the food outside the now open door of the caravan. The cat blinked a few times before stretching and slowly walking outside to eat. Lavender watched him devour his meal, before trotting over to her tent.

There is probably no use in going back to the stage now... She thought. The performance of the singer may have ended already, since she didn't hear much from the stage. If she remembered correctly, the next show was music as well, so she could listen to that without actually walking back to the stage. And Nightlight must have left too already, since he seemed to be on duty.

Well, better get to business then, I'm here to entertain ponies after all! With that, she turned the bright, sparkling lights attached to her tent, and set up a sign in front of it: "Tonight's performance: Basic magic lessons to foals and grown-ups alike!"

 

@@Denim&Venom

Suddenly, an announcer's voice rang from the main stage:

"And last but not least, Ruby Rain is up on the stage! Please enjoy the final show of tonight and don't forget to check out the smaller stages either!"

 

Finally it was the last performance. After that the spectators of the stage would spread out, and Lavender could get some attention as well. She couldn't wait!

Edited August 27, 2016 by Glitter Glue

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla nodded and said, "Yep, my name is Skyla. I'm sorry that I held you up." Without wanting to trouble them further, Skyla waved and trotted off, saying, "Hope to see you guys around!"

 

@@Glitter Glue,

 

Skyla continued her tour around the festival. She came into a section of tents and small stages for smaller performances. She stopped at the sight of glimmering lights and a sign for magic lessons. "I've never seen a magic show before...," Skyla thought aloud. She decided to stick around for a moment to see if the show started soon.

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

@@Glitter Glue,

 

"Your assistant, fed? -Wha- Actually whatever, I hope to see you around sometime later in that case. " Nightlight offered her a quick smile and watched for a moment as she left, trying to get a general idea where her caravan was in case he felt like paying a visit sometime later.

 

Then his attention returned over to the stage, clapping his hooves lightly but honestly not being the one for music talents unless they were really somewhat extraordinary and preferably of the more energetic type.

 

But deciding not to linger on too much as yet another singer was taking the stage he wandered off, once more glacing an eye over the crowd and then checking on all his guards and their position. Quite gladly, however, his earlier utter stress was mostly gone after the little chat he had with the mare earlier, feeling a lot more confident with himself.

[Unicorncob 5,704]

Cipolla's ears flicked as she overheard the last performance was a magic show. Considering she was a unicorn and magic was just a part of her every day life, she didn't think much of it.

 

Though, her parents and grandparents always taught her how to cook by hoof, and of course she kept the tradition by using her hooves to prepare more minimised snacks when the hotplate was emptying. Family was just as important as good food, in her mind.

 

Dough was kneaded and cheese was grated all by hoof, only using her magic to carry platters and utensils around when needed.

[redaxted 1,765]

@@Wolves,

 

Skyla nodded and said, "Yep, my name is Skyla. I'm sorry that I held you up." Without wanting to trouble them further, Skyla waved and trotted off, saying, "Hope to see you guys around!"

Golden Spell waved goodbye to Skyla in reply, then took the handles of the wheeled cage back into his hoofs and began to once again push the lion's enclosure back towards the tent. Soon, the big cat was wandering around in its much larger pen, curling up to sleep after a long day. Cyan Flare smiled as she watched him snooze peacefully, then turned to her brother and gestured back towards the main stage.

"I wonder what the final act might be," the unicorn said.

"Yeah, I always look to find out exactly what everypony is doing," Cyan said. Then, she spotted the catering tent again nearby, and, realsiing that she continued to feel a little peckish, she said, "you fancy a dessert?"

"Yes, why not? We can see what they have."

 

Cipolla's ears flicked as she overheard the last performance was a magic show. Considering she was a unicorn and magic was just a part of her every day life, she didn't think much of it.

 

Though, her parents and grandparents always taught her how to cook by hoof, and of course she kept the tradition by using her hooves to prepare more minimised snacks when the hotplate was emptying. Family was just as important as good food, in her mind.

 

Dough was kneaded and cheese was grated all by hoof, only using her magic to carry platters and utensils around when needed.

"Hi, again," Cyan Flare poked her head into the tent to see Cipolla. She wore her regular, almost persistent small smile.

[Unicorncob 5,704]

"Hi, again," Cyan Flare poked her head into the tent to see Cipolla. She wore her regular, almost persistent small smile.

 

Cipolla's ears pricked up as she heard the familiar voice, and she turned from the small oven in the tent to nod at her.

 

"Hey, animal girl," she greeted, not wearing a smile of her own but not looking hostile either, "loved that show you did, with the lion and all."

[redaxted 1,765]

Cipolla's ears pricked up as she heard the familiar voice, and she turned from the small oven in the tent to nod at her.

 

"Hey, animal girl," she greeted, not wearing a smile of her own but not looking hostile either, "loved that show you did, with the lion and all."

"Thank you," Golden Spell was the first to speak up again. "I am glad that you enjoyed the show. Our effort appears to payed off, it would seem."

"Yeah, thank you," Cyan said with a nod, browsing the other foods set out on the table. "Just looking for a nice dessert; we're both still a little hungry, especially after wheeling those animal cages back to the tent... they're pretty heavy."

Edited August 29, 2016 by Wolves

[Glitter Glue 79]

@@Midnight Starfall

 

Lavender noticed the pegasus near her tent, and called out to her:

"Are you here for the lessons? We can start right away if you wish!" her voice was powerful, yet cheerful and welcoming, just the way she was supposed to talk on stage. She hurriedly placed a few basic magician's supplies on the counter in front of her.

"What would you like to hear about first? I can tell you the basic logic behind all magic, tell you about these objects right here, or start right in the middle: with some simpler, yet magical tricks for you to learn the secret behind!" She described the lesson with sparkling eyes and a wide grin on her face.

[Midnight Starfall 179]

@@Glitter Glue,

 

Skyla looked down at the objects, wondering what they were for. She pointed to the magician's supplies and said, "What do these do? They look really cool." She couldn't help but share the mare's enthusiasm. "Then you can teach me some tricks!" Skyla said excitedly, a grin spreading across her face.

[Unicorncob 5,704]

"Thank you," Golden Spell was the first to speak up again. "I am glad that you enjoyed the show. Our effort appears to payed off, it would seem."

"Yeah, thank you," Cyan said with a nod, browsing the other foods set out on the table. "Just looking for a nice dessert; we're both still a little hungry, especially after wheeling those animal cages back to the tent... they're pretty heavy."

 

"Desserts, gotcha," Cipolla nodded, and trotted over to another box on her side of the tent, flipping it open and letting some steamy, cool air fly out. She used her magic to levitate some small desserts out of the mini-freezer.

 

"We got gelato," she began, nodding to the small bowl of ice cream in her magic, "plenty a' flavours there. Some cannoli-" she then nodded to the pastry wrap filled with pastry, "-and if ya want some good ol' fashioned cakes and stuff, we got that too." She finally nodded to a perfectly triangular slice of chocolate cake.