Disclaimer: My Little Pony- Friendship is Magic belongs to Hasbro. Characters from the 1986 series (Erebus and Knight Shade) belong to whoever ultimately holds the rights to characters from that series. All lyrics used in this fan fiction are from the musical “Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, with the copyright most likely held by The Really Useful Group.

CHAPTER 1

Twilight Sparkle sighed, contented. She had spent the entire morning devising the perfect system for categorising and cataloguing the books in the library. On paper the system seemed very effective, complete with numbers for each category and decimal numbers to signify each subcategory.

Though, Twilight remarked to herself, Spike was bound to protest the workload the system would entail. Still, it would be worth listening to the dragon’s grumblings to achieve some proper order around their library-cum-home.

“Just wait until I tell my friends about this,” the unicorn said, a wide smile appearing on her face.

The joy of the announcement of her glorious new book classification system was somewhat hampered by the fact that she could not make the declaration to all of her friends at once. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Spike had just departed for Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash had obtained passage to see the Wonderbolts practise and she was determined to bring Fluttershy along for what she had declared as “the most flippin’ awesome time in recent memory”. Never one to miss a chance to see celebrities at close range, Spike had tagged along, certain that Fluttershy was not about to let him fall off the clouds.

Heading towards the door, Twilight’s progress was suddenly halted with the door bursting open and something blurry and pink knocking her down.

“Why hello, Pinkie,” Twilight said, all too used to the experience of being mowed down by the excitable pony.

After a series of jumps and shouts of “ohmigosh” Pinkie stopped to drawn breath and exclaimed, “he’s performing here! Tonight!”

This explanation was followed by more jumping and energetic gibberish. Twilight pulled herself to her feet and waited patiently for Pinkie to run out of steam.

When this finally occurred, the unicorn said, “would you mind elaborating a little. Who’s this he and why should care about him performing in Ponyville?”

Pinkie let out gasp. “You mean you haven’t heard?”

“Obviously, I haven’t”

“Wow.” Pinkie laughed. “Then you’re way out of the loop. You should get out more often- No, wait, you do get out-”

“Pinkie, focus.”

“Oh, yeah. Well, he is Knight Shade.” Pinkie smiled, as if expecting a reaction.

“And who is that exactly?”

“Only the most awesome singer in Equestria in, like, forever. He’s on a kingdom wide tour and is doing two gigs right here. Sure, his music’s kinda slow for my taste, but-” Pinkie looked around conspiratorially. “He is so hot I can’t help but like even his gloomy songs.”

“Well, that’s nice, I guess,” Twilight said, exiting the library with Pinkie Pie in tow. “But that’s not nearly as exciting as what I have to tell you.”

“Ooh!” Pinkie squealed. “Did you learn some epic new spell?”

“No.”

“Did you go an epic adventure on your own?”

“No.”

“Did you get some kind exciting news from Princess Celestia?”

“No.”

“Did you… Um… Bake cookies?”

“No. I have devised the most efficient method for organising the books in the library.”

“Oh.” Pinkie seemed to consider this revelation for a moment. “I guess that’s kind of exciting. Though that does have a clear lack of baked goods.”

Twilight smiled indulgingly. “You’re more than welcomed to make special library organising cookies for the occasion.”

“Okay!” Pinkie’s capricious focus was then pulled elsewhere. “There, that’s the poster.”

“What poster?” Twilight tilted her head and followed Pinkie’s line of sight.

“The poster for Knight Shade’s concert, duh. Weren’t you paying attention?”

Twilight was pretty sure she had been paying attention. Then again, with Pinkie’s particular brand of logic, it was at times hard to know what a particular conversation was really about. Letting the matter rest, Twilight looked at the poster.

Knight Shade, as it turned out, was a white earth pony with a purple mane and tail. The poster depicted him midsong, eyes half-closed and dreamingly looking ahead.

“Is he wearing eye shadow?” Twilight said, noting the colt’s purple lids.

Pinkie shrugged. “Lots of colts wear makeup, it’s nothing new.”

“I suppose it’s to be expected of a performer,” Twilight muttered.

The unicorn vaguely recalled stage actors who would sometimes wear an outrageous amount of makeup to fit the role they were playing. Twilight’s exposure to the theatre had been rather limited while growing up, she preferred reading the plays and imagining the scenarios herself and found the act of seeing somepony else’s interpretation of the events to be bothersome. No actor could ever match the characters she had pictures playing the parts.

Twilight was pulled away from her musings at the sound of Pinkie moaning in dissatisfaction.

“I wish you could come along with me tonight, Twilight, but they’re sold out.” Pinkie pursed her lips in disappointment at the notice pasted on the poster. “Oh! I know! I can borrow you some of my records and then you can see him the day after tomorrow, I’m sure there’s still seats left for that show.”

Twilight hummed in something that to Pinkie must have sounded like an agreement.

“Great! I’ll just go get those records for you then.”

Before Twilight could respond, Pinkie had dashed off. Once the dust cloud settled, Twilight found herself faced with a somewhat perturbed Rarity.

“Why, I never. To think that I was so focused on my latest fabulous creation that I had completely missed this.” She indicated at the poster.

“You’re a fan of this guy too?” Twilight asked.

Rarity laughed. “I would hardly call myself a fan. I haven’t heard him sing in years. No, no. This guy, as you so eloquently phrased it, is my cousin.”

Twilight, wide-eyed at this revelation, looked at the poster and then back to Rarity. Their colours did match, though Knight Shade’s hair was far more curlier and he was not a unicorn like Rarity.

“Huhn,” was all Twilight could comment.

“Well, actually Shade’s my second cousin, but really who’s counting?” Rarity sighed. “To think that little Shady has become a famous singer. Though it’s not really much of a surprise, his mother Crystal was a famous opera diva and Auntie Morrow was also accomplished in music.”

Twilight raised her eyebrow, thinking there was something inconsistent in what rarity had said.

Seeing her friend’s confusion Rarity smiled. “Morrow, who was Shade’s birthmother and also my second aunt, was mates with Crystal, so they were both his mothers. I never met Crystal myself, I’m afraid she passed away rather suddenly, but I did spend a good portion of my childhood around Shade and Morrow. That is, until Auntie died just before Sweetie Belle was born. I haven’t seen Shade since the funeral.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Twilight drooped her ears, not certain how she ought to react.

“It’s quite alright. As I said that was years ago. I am happy to see that Shade’s doing well, I’m certain his mothers would be proud.” Rarity then scoffed in mock irritation. “Though I’m sure they wouldn’t be proud of him neglecting to tell his beloved cousin that he was coming to Ponyville.”

“Maybe he’s busy, being famous and all that. Or he could be planning to surprise you.”

“Yes, that could be plausible.” Rarity turned around. “In which case I had best return to my shop and await either his apology or his spectacular surprise appearance.”

It was not until Rarity was well out of earshot that Twilight realised that she had completely forgotten to tell her friend about her book organising system. Hopefully Pinkie would not get a chance to spoil Twilight’s discovery to Rarity before Twilight had the chance to entrance everypony with the full-blown epicness of library classification.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Rarity rolled her shoulders, having just finished a multilayered petticoat made of white tulle. It was an impressive piece, but Rarity disliked the monotony of sewing one carefully folded layer after the other. Maybe it was time to teach Sweetie Belle how to use the sewing machine.

Right on queue, the little unicorn came into the room, twirling to an inner music. Rarity shook her head at the sight.

“Belle, dearest, what are you up to?”

Belle, startled, suddenly lost her previous grace and stumbled to the floor. “I was just, you know, dancing.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain cousin of ours being in town?”

The tiny filly gasped in wonder. “He really is our cousin?”

“Second cousin, but who’s counting?”

“Wow! Why didn’t I know I was related to someone famous?”

Rarity frowned. “Your beloved big sister is also quite renowned, you know.”

“Sure, but you’re not an awesome singer.”

“My interests are elsewhere, darling.”

A soft chuckle interrupted the two before they could launch into a proper debate. Rarity glanced behind her to see Knight Shade standing in the shop.

“You shouldn’t sell yourself short, Rarity. I remember you having perfectly lovely voice.”

“Shady.” Rarity smiled, going up to her cousin and greeting him with a quick nuzzle. “I was almost afraid you would neglect me while here.”

“Me, forget about you? How could I?” Shade said in feigned horror.

Feeling a hoof pump her flank, Rarity stepped aside to let Belle closer to Shade. “You haven’t had a chance to meet her yet, have you. Shade, this is my little sister Sweetie Belle.”

Shade smiled in manner that Rarity was sure could melt the hearts of anypony who first met him. “Hello, Sweetie Belle, I’m glad to finally meet you.”

“You… knew about me?” Belle blinked.

“I had received word of your birth, I’m just sorry it took me this long to come and see you.”

This elicited a giggle from the filly.

“I see you haven’t lost the family charm, horn or no horn.” Rarity nudged Shade playfully.

“You could say I posses a magic all my own,” Shade responded, giving Rarity a wink.

“Indeed. Have you been working that magic on any lucky filly or colt yet?”

Shade blushed. “Not really. I mean… I’m so busy with my career that I haven’t had much time to think about that.”

“I do hope you’re not working too hard, Shady. Stress is not good for your complexion.”

“I know,” Shade said with an exasperated sigh. “Fair furred ponies are prone to skin blemishes. Trust me, I’m not doing anything that could compromise my complexion. Though you’d be surprised what stage makeup can do.”

Rarity laughed. “Oh please, with those hot lights, no amount of makeup can safe bad fur.”

Sweetie Belle looked at her sister quizzically. “The lights in the school talent show weren’t that hot.”

“Dear, those weren’t like the lights used on larger stages. Besides, I think you were concerned with things other than the lights.”

“Yeah.” Belle kicked her front hooves in embarrassment.

“I’m sure you did well in talent show.” Shade gave the filly another radiant smile.

“Kinda, my friends and I did win Best Comedy At, though we hadn’t planned on that.”

“Oh, I’d love to hear that story.”

Belle proceeded to recount the talent show incident, though Rarity did note that her sister was augmenting certain parts. Well, one could not expect someone Belle’s age to describe things with much accuracy.

At some point Belle, with the subtlety of a stampeding buffalo, brought up the issue of concert tickets.

Seeing Shade only just stopping himself from flinching, Rarity hurried to say, “you needn’t go through any trouble on our account.”

“Oh, no… it’s okay. No trouble at all. I’m sure I get you two tickets for the second concert.”

The bell over the door jingled, revealing a light grey unicorn in dark sunglasses. His unicorn was exceptionally long, giving him a strangely regal appearance.

“So, this is where you ran off to,” the unicorn’s low voice rumbled.

Shade fidgeted, digging the edge of his right front hoof into the floor. “Ah, yeah. Erebus, these are my cousins Rarity and Sweetie Belle, I was just visiting them. This is Erebus, my manager.”

The unicorn bowed at the two fillies. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Rarity responded with a polite nod of her head. She, if anypony, could appreciate a stallion who knew his etiquette, but there was something undeniably forced in Erebus’ civility. There was an air about him, though Rarity could not quite place her hoof on it.

“I do hate to pull you away from this charming reunion, Knight Shade, but we have to do a sound check before tonight‘s performance. Ladies, if you will excuse us.” Erebus turned around and left the shop.

Shade hesitated, giving Rarity and Belle an apologetic smile. “I have to go. I’ll get back to you about the tickets, I promise.”

With that Shade hurried to follow Erebus. Rarity raised a carefully trimmed brow at the look barely masked anxiety on her cousin’s face as he exited. Shade had never been good in hiding his feelings, a quality Rarity always attributed to his artistic background, and now he was doing a terrible job at trying to not look worried. Rarity would have to have a serious talk with him tomorrow.