Sweetie Belle felt anxious as she sat in front of the mirror in her bedroom while her sister, Rarity, brushed her hair. She stared into the looking glass, blinking only one or twice, thinking back to the nightmare she'd had the night before.

In the dream, she was standing, surrounded by darkness, with a single spotlight shining down on her, while a second light shined upon a giant wooden metronome. The pendulum swung back and forth, counting the beats as Sweetie Belle sang. And as she sang, she felt herself sinking further and further into the darkness until she finally fell into the abyss.

Sweetie Belle had woken up panting, thankful it had only been a dream. And even more thankful that it wasn't as bad as some of the other nightmares she'd had.

When Rarity noticed the frightened expression on her sister's face, she asked, "Sweetie Belle, what's the matter? You look white as a sheet."

"I can't do it, Rarity," Sweetie Belle said timidly.

"They don't expect you to sing until after tea," Rarity said. "You've got another half an hour to practice."

"I can't do it," Sweetie Belle repeated. "I can't sing."

"It's just stage fright. It's perfectly natural. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be right there with you,"

Sweetie Belle stood up and defiantly walked across the room.

"You can't make me sing. I won't. I won't!"

As she headed for the door, their mother, Cookie Crumbles entered.

"Everyone's here!" she said. "Have you seen my-"

"Mommy, please don't make me sing," said Sweetie Belle.

"She's a little nervous, Mother," Rarity told her.

"Sweetie Belle, you promised me and your father," Cookie Crumbles said. "Everyone's been looking forward to it for weeks. Of course, if you really don't want to your father and I will understand, though we'll be very disappointed."

"I don't want to disappoint you and daddy," said Sweetie Belle.

"Don't worry, darling," she told her daughter. "I'm sure you'll make us all very proud."

She went back downstairs with Rarity close behind.

"And remember, Sweetie Belle," Rarity added, "whatever happens, the show must go on."

Sweetie Belle took a seat on the bed and looked down at Rarity's pet cat, who was lying on a red velvet pillow, curled up in a ball, trying to nap.

"Oh, what am I going to do, Opalescence?" she asked.

Opalescence just purred in reply.