“Does my horn look alright, Sweetie?” Apple Bloom asked, turning away from the dressing room’s mirror. The yellow, plastic headband seemed straight, but she needed a real unicorn’s opinion on it. She then noticed that the dressing room was down one pony. “Hey, where’d Sweetie Belle go?”

“She—urgh—said something about—gah—going backstage and left,” Scootaloo said, her voice strained. She flopped around on her back as she worked an all-black fabric suit up past her wings.

“Oh. Well, what d’you think of my horn?”

Scootaloo stopped struggling with her outfit and looked up at Apple Bloom. “It was fine until you started touching it.” She resumed trying to fit into her clothes.

With a sigh, Apple Bloom looked back into the mirror and tried to get the accessory back in place. She had been excited when this year’s school performance turned out to be a play based on the Lady Blue Petal series of books. She had been even more excited when her class picked her to play the lead. The stories about the heroic unicorn knight had always been some of her favorites. Of course, the pictures that adorned the book’s pages weren’t half bad either. They always featured Blue Petal standing in heroic poses, wearing her ornate barding and sword. The metal armor had been painted white to match her coat while drawings of blue flowers, the same color as her mane and tail, lined its edges. Her sword looked equally ornate as she held it high with her magic, letting it shine in the sun, ready to smite the foes who would dare to threaten the ponies of the world.

Apple Bloom’s costume, on the other hoof, had been made by the students in her school. It still looked nice, and she appreciated the effort, but since none of her classmates knew how to make metal barding—or even normal barding—they had decided to create a cloth caparison instead. The result looked more like a dress version of the classic armor. At least her painted cardboard sword was somewhat like the drawings.

“Finally,” Scootaloo said with a sigh of relief. “These outfits the running crew are supposed to wear are ridiculous.”

“I think they’re cool. Y'all look like ninjas runnin’ around in black so you can’t be seen.”

“Uncomfortable ninjas that are sweating to death. I think I’ll leave the hood off until we start. Whoever designed this outfit definitely wasn’t a pegasus. The wing holes are too far back.”

“And the tail hole looks extra-large. You sure you don’t have it on backwards?”

Scootaloo stared blankly for a moment before giving a long sigh. She wrapped her tail in its cover, then bit onto her hood and slung it over her back. “I’m not even going to try to straighten this out. Come on. Let’s go find Sweetie. I should probably also do another check of the props before we start.”

***

Sweetie Belle gulped down the last of her water and slammed her cup to the table. She breathed deeply, keeping her eyes closed to the buzz of activity that filled the backstage. Once her heart no longer felt like it was trying to escape her chest, she opened her eyes and looked around at her classmates. Several students were practicing their lines one last time, while others busied themselves getting the props set up just right. A few groups with nothing to do just stood around, talking and laughing. The sound of hooves on metal drew her attention to up towards the walkway, which ran the length of the stage. A lone stallion walked across it, testing the lights one by one.

No matter where she looked, Sweetie Belle noticed that, regardless of what they would be doing tonight, everypony wore a smile. Everypony except for herself, that was.

She looked back at the stage curtains she had come from moments ago. Even at the water table, she could still hear the muffled sounds of the audience talking and the band warming up. She shivered and pulled the hooded cloak of her costume a little tighter.

“There she is,” the voice of Scootaloo called out.

Sweetie turned to see her two friends approaching. They were smiling too. She gave a half-hearted wave as they walked up to her. “Apple Bloom?” she asked. “Are you feeling... nervous at all?”

Apple Bloom tapped a hoof to her chin a few times and appeared to give the question some serious thought. She then broke into a grin. “Nah. I’m pretty excited. Why? Are you?”

“Kind of,” Sweetie admitted.

“You shouldn’t be,” Apple Bloom said. “You were great at rehearsals. Besides, this ain’t any different than the talent show we did last year.”

“Yeah... but that time, I was so busy with the props and trying to keep the set from collapsing that I didn’t have time to think about the audience.”

“No need to worry about that tonight!” Scootaloo said. “The running crew will be taking care of all the behind the scenes stuff. We did an amazing job getting the set together. Everything is built solid.”

To emphasize her point, Scootaloo knocked on one of the cardboard trees, which then fell over. She glanced between her friends and chuckled nervously. “We got carried away making props and ran low on cardboard, so some of the background trees are a little unbalanced. Try not to lean on them. Or touch them. Or, well... it's probably best to just avoid being near them, if you can.”

Scootaloo wiggled her head under the fake tree’s leaves and quickly pushed up. The tree rose a bit before falling back on top of her. She grumbled something about this tree being one of the big ones and moved further beneath it.

Sweetie watched her friend and was about to offer her help when she felt something land on her shoulder. She yelped and whipped her head to the side, then blushed when she saw Apple Bloom’s hoof.

“Sorry, I was tryin’ to reassure you, not scare you,” Apple Bloom said, removing her hoof. “Wow. You really are jumpy, ain’t you?”

The look of concern in her friend’s eyes only made the butterflies in Sweetie’s stomach flap harder. She turned her head away from Apple Bloom and tried to keep her voice from wavering. “Maybe... maybe we should find Miss Cheerilee a-and get somepony else to play my part.”

“Hey, don’t say that,” Apple Bloom said, moving so Sweetie faced her. “You practiced just as hard as all of us. Probably even harder! You’re gonna do great. Trust me. Although...” She quickly looked left and right, leaned in, and switched to a whisper. “I do have a secret technique that’s guaranteed to scare off stage fright. Wanna hear it?”

Sweetie locked eyes and nodded quickly.

“Just imagine everypony in the audience is wearin’ only pants.”

“What?” Sweetie said, drawing back. “Why?”

“Because it would look silly!” Apple Bloom whispered excitedly, her face breaking into a huge grin. “If everypony in the audience looks silly, then you don’t have to worry about lookin’ silly yourself!”

Sweetie tried imagining ponies in pants, but didn’t see how that could help. “My Mom wears pants, and she doesn’t look silly.”

“Only pants and nothing else?”

“...No.”

“And that’s the secret!”

Sweetie still had her doubts it could be that easy. “Is that what you do?”

“Well... no,” Apple Bloom said, blushing a little. “You see, I, uh... I like to pretend. Tonight, I'm going to imagine I really am Lady Blue Petal, and that the things we’re doin’ up on stage really is real.”

With a frustrated yell, Scootaloo flicked her head upward again. The tree stood upright and wobbled a bit but remained standing. She panted and said, “No offense... Apple Bloom... but that just seems weird.”

Apple Bloom blushed more. “Yeah, kinda... but it’s fun and keeps me too busy to worry ’bout bein’ scared.”

“I think I’ll just stick with the pants thing,” Sweetie said.

“Heads up. Incoming trouble,” Scootaloo said with a nod towards two approaching fillies.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both wore simple-looking clothing in shades of brown. The look of annoyance on their faces didn’t match the kindly-villager roles they would be playing tonight. “Hello, Apple Bloom,” Diamond Tiara said as she got close. “Ready to be laughed off stage again?”

“Still sore you didn’t get to be the lead? It must be so awful playin’ an innkeeper,” Apple Bloom said, rolling her eyes.

“Actually, I find it very ironic that the innkeeper has a much better singing voice than the hero. I can’t wait to see the audience react to you drawling your way through your songs. My song, however, will be leaving the audience in tears.”

“Tears of pain or tears of misery?” Apple Bloom asked innocently.

Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes. “Let’s go, Silver Spoon. These losers are going to break my concentration.”

As Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked away, Sweetie and her friends looked at each other flatly. Despite her best efforts, Sweetie’s lips began to curve into a smile, so she placed a hoof across her muzzle. Scootaloo snorted and clenched her quivering lips tighter, which only caused a giggle to slip out of Sweetie. Apple Bloom held her watering eyes shut tight as she grinned and bit her lower lip. Finally, once the bullies had traveled out of earshot, the laughter they had been holding back came bubbling out. The tension Sweetie had been feeling faded somewhat as she shared the moment with her friends.

“That... that was painful trying not to laugh,” Scootaloo said as she wiped away a tear. “E-every time I see her, I keep remembering the look on her face when she found out that Silver Spoon was the only one that voted for her to play Blue Petal.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said with a nod, “but I only won ’cause nopony else ’sides the two of us wanted to be the lead.”

“That’s because Blue Petal sings in almost every song,” Sweetie said.

“Eh, maybe.” Apple Bloom shrugged. “I still think you should have tried for the lead, Sweetie. You’d be the perfect Blue Petal.”

Sweetie felt like she was choking. “What?” she squeaked, her voice rising in pitch. “No way! I can’t sing out there! Even imagining the whole audience with pants on their heads wouldn’t be enough to stop my stage fright, then!”

“Okay, okay! Calm down. You don’t have to sing if you don’t want to. I only meant you’d be the perfect Blue Petal ’cause you sort of look like her. You also wouldn’t have to wear one of these dumb fake horns.” Apple Bloom taped her headband, which loosened it enough to fall over her eyes. “Not again! Urgh, I just fixed this! This better not happen on stage.”

Sweetie giggled and reached out a hoof. “Here, let me. You really should have chosen a smaller headband.”

“Yeah, I know, but this was the only one close to my color.”

“Attention, everypony!” the voice of Cheerilee called across the stage. The students quickly finished what they were doing and lined up in front of their teacher. “Curtains are coming up in five minutes. I’m so proud of what a good job you have all done. Don’t worry if you make a mistake or forget a line. I’ll be out front and ready to help you if you need it. Just remember to do your best and have fun! Those of you in the first act, find your places. Running crew, be ready with the trees. Ohhh, this is so exciting! You’re all going to be wonderful!”

Cheerilee walked off stage, leaving the students to hurry into their positions.

Scootaloo sighed as she looked at her hood. “Guess it’s time to start sweating,” she said. She fit the hood over her head and twisted it around until the eyeholes were in front. She disappeared behind a tree that wobbled slightly until her hooves reached around to hold onto the sides.

“Break a leg, Apple Bloom. I’ll see you in the second act,” Sweetie said. She hurried after the other actors and slowed to a walk once she was offstage. “Pants, huh?” She then noticed a smile had finally found its way to her lips.

***

Apple Bloom walked over to her starting spot. She closed her eyes and took a deep calming breath. She imagined what it would be like to be Blue Petal. The cheers of the ponies she saved. The satisfaction of another evildoer brought to justice. The feel of her magic lifting her sword. True, she had no clue what that last one would actually feel like, but she tried to imagine it anyway.

It was silly, but it really did work for her. When she reopened her eyes, she could no longer see the stage. Instead, a great forest stretched around her. Ahead of her, the trees finally started to thin out, and a valley could be seen beyond the forest’s edge. It looked like the sun had just risen over the horizon, signaling the start of another glorious day.

Lady Blue Petal stood ready for her adventure.

***

The audience hushed themselves as Cheerilee walked across the stage. She smiled at all the citizens of Ponyville who had come to see tonight’s performance. Over two hundred she had heard. A much better turnout than at last year’s talent show. Thankfully, the school board had decided to spring for actual seating for their theater. It was one thing to stand around for a couple quick acts but quite another for an entire musical.

“Welcome, everypony, to this year’s school performance!” Cheerilee announced when she had reached center stage. The audience cheered and stomped their hooves in applause. She waited for them to quiet again before continuing. “Tonight, we have a very special play for you all: a retelling of the classic Lady Blue Petal story, ‘The Trials of the Hero!’”

The pianist in the band began playing a soft melody to accompany Cheerilee’s words.

“Our story takes place in a fanciful land that is plagued by troubles. The ponies of this land were miserable, for they were under constant attack from the forces of darkness. One day, tired of watching the world live in fear, a few brave ponies stepped forth. Through their actions, they pushed back the armies of darkness, and the world became a safer place once again. For their bravery, these ponies became known as the First Heroes. However, theirs is another story.

“Many, many years have passed since the defeat of the darkness, and the First Heroes have all been laid to rest. Though they may be gone, their stories still lived on in legends, inspiring new generations of ponies to take on the mantle of the hero. One such pony was Lady Blue Petal.

“Blue Petal had decided to model her life after the lessons taught by the First Heroes. Ever since she could remember, she had helped those in need. With every heroic deed or evil foe vanquished, she would become more and more renowned.

“However, Blue Petal wasn’t without faults. As her fame grew, so did her ego, until she lost sight of what being a hero truly meant. The ponies in need became nothing more than stepping-stones for her to achieve further greatness. It got to a point where only the most heroic of deeds were good enough for Blue Petal, and many ponies with lesser troubles had to go without the hero they so desperately needed.

“But fear not, ponies of the world, for our once-noble hero has not yet been lost to us. Sometimes, it takes a little reminder from our past to steer us back on to the proper path.”

Cheerilee took her place off to the side of the stage. The curtains opened to reveal a forest of painted, cardboard trees with Apple Bloom walking through them.

“We join Blue Petal as she begins a new adventure in search of heroic deeds to perform,” Cheerilee narrated. “Her hopes were high as she...”

Blue Petal’s hopes were high as she traveled through the forest. She felt good having the sunshine on her now that the trees had finally thinned out enough. Her white ornate barding—which totally did not look like a dress—seemed to glow in the early morning light.

The cravings of adventure had once again called out to her, driving her to find new ponies in trouble. She couldn’t wait to show the world some more of her amazing heroic deeds. Maybe she could even get a few more books written about her.

Rumors had told that the valley on the other side of this forest was a pure and clean place full of happy ponies, living in their happy homes and going about their happy lives. It practically screamed to the world for all the villains to come attack and turn it into their new base of evil operations. This sounded like a prime opportunity for some heroics, and Blue Petal was going to be sure to get in on it. She quickened her pace, eager to exit the forest and see the devastation that had befallen these poor, helpless ponies. Hopefully, the valley was still under attack, so that she could get straight to the fighting.

The trees cleared away as Blue Petal rushed into the valley, revealing a sight that was worse than she had imagined. There were no fires. There were no marching evil armies, or even standing-still evil armies. No fire-breathing dragons causing trouble, or lakes of acid, or oppressive-looking castles, or wild animal attacks. She looked around, feeling disappointed that she hadn’t even received a decent greeting by a gang of roaming bandits.

This place really was nothing more than a happy valley. In the distance, she spied a tiny farming village that looked just as happy as everything else around it did. Blue Petal sighed and walked in that direction. Hopefully, word had just gotten out that she was coming, and this was all some sort of act.

A thought had been bothering Blue Petal for some time, and entering this valley had just confirmed it: an invisible band was following her. They weren’t bad as far as invisible bands went. They had a violin, a lyre, a trumpet, and a piano. They were all in tune and worked well together as they played an uplifting tune.

With clear, sunny skies above, Blue Petal found herself not caring that there was nothing heroic to do at this very moment. Things would get interesting soon enough. They always did. It was the start of what would be a wonderful day. She could feel it.

The music following Blue Petal sounded very happy and was building in strength. She wondered if she should—no. She couldn’t just start singing for no reason. Could she? The music felt so light-hearted and inviting. It would be a shame not to have some vocals to go with it. Well... as long as nopony else was around, she might as well humor the band. It might just get them to leave her alone.

Blue Petal:

Today is goin’ to be — such a wonderful daaaay!

Everythin’ will be great. All will be goin’ my waaaay!

There are no dark clouds that I can see.

The birdies and critters are singin’ for me.

Yes, today is goin’ to beeeeeee — a wonderful day!

Even if this valley is so happyyyy,

There’s probably still some evil drawin’ neeeear!

I will keep an eye out for the ap-proa-chin’-doom,

So I can give it a beat-down most seveeeere!

Blue Petal felt so liberated singing for no reason and couldn’t help but smile. She wanted to share her happiness, but the village was too far away to hear her. She knew she had to share this feeling with somepony, and if no ponies were close, then it would have to be nature.

“Good mornin’, Mr. Sun!” Blue Petal yelled to the sky. “Thank you for this wonderful day!”

“You’re quite welcome,” the sun answered unexpectedly.

Blue Petal raised an eyebrow. Most ponies didn’t expect the sun to answer back. Of course, most ponies also didn’t speak to the sun in the first place. For all she knew, this could actually be normal. She didn’t know what confused her more: that the sun could apparently talk, or that it had a thick Trottingham accent. Still, why waste a chance to say she spoke with the sun?

“Hey, Mr. Sun. Would you like to sing with me?”

“I would love to!”

Sun:

I can see you down there — having a wonderful daaaay!

Going on another adventure with-out delaaaay.

There’s so much joy that we can share.

Let’s sing all day without a care.

I can see what you have theeeeeeere — a wonderful day!

Blue Petal laughed. “Yes, Mr. Sun, it sure is a wonderful day. After all...”

Blue Petal:

How can it not be wonderful with a heroooo?

Stridin’ proudly ‘cross the countrysiiiide?

Everypony knows that I am the-best-there-is!

My countless deeds are known both far and wiiiide!

“Oh... that’s, er, nice,” the sun said. “Excuse me, o great hero, I’m... going to go somewhere less full of themselves—I mean stuffy. I’ll be over there.”

Blue Petal watched the sun move across the sky until she could no longer see it. This apparently had no effect on the time of day, though. She decided this must just be one of those little oddities of nature and not, hopefully, some sort of ill omen.

The music kept playing, and Blue Petal’s mood kept feeling better. She had gotten closer to the village, but they still wouldn’t be able to hear her at this range. She looked around for something else to sing with and then heard a chattering sound coming from a nearby tree. Looking up, she saw a squirrel sitting on the highest branch. She decided to perform a test.

“Well hello there, Mrs. Squirrel,” Blue Petal called out.

“Hi there!” the squirrel answered.

Blue Petal nodded. Her test had been conclusive. She decided not to question her newfound ability to communicate with nature and instead asked, “Would you like to sing with me?”

“Oh, wow! Would I?” the squirrel said happily.

Squirrel:

I’m having so mu—Ahhh!

Blue Petal watched in horror as the squirrel lost her balance and fell from the branch. The squirrel cried out in pain as she hit the branch below her and then continued falling. Fate was a cruel mistress today as Mrs. Squirrel unluckily hit every single branch on her way down the tree. She tumbled helplessly through the air before finally hitting the ground with a thud. The poor critter lay on her back, silent and unmoving.

The invisible band respectfully stopped playing, and the whole valley went silent as it mourned the loss of Mrs. Squirrel.

Apple Bloom stared down at Archer, who was upside down and staring back with flushed cheeks. Thankfully, the fake-branch platform had only been a few inches above the stage. While Archer didn’t appear hurt, her costume hadn’t been so lucky. The fall had bent her paper squirrel tail at a right angle.

“Oh, my!” Cheerilee said as she rushed across the stage. “Archer? Are you alright?”

“Yes, Miss Cheerilee,” Archer said as she got back up.

“Are you sure? We could—”

“The show must go on!”

“Well... okay, then. Let’s start again with your lead-in, Apple Bloom,” Cheerilee said, heading back to her place.

Mrs. Squirrel twitched once and sprang back to her feet. She was alive! Truly a miracle, and Blue Petal needed to celebrate it the only way she knew how: with song!

“Would you like to sing with me?” Blue Petal asked the squirrel again.

“Oh, wow! Would I?” the squirrel said happily.

Blue Petal noticed that the squirrel’s tail appeared to be broken. The critter’s will had to have been the thing of legends to be able to move around, let alone want to sing, under what could only be excruciating pain.

Squirrel:

I’m having so much fun — it’s a wonderful daaaay!

Any problems that I have will work out somewaaaay!

It feels so great being in the sun.

I want to jump and climb and run.

Do you know what is fuuuuuuun? — A wonderful day!

“Yes, Mrs. Squirrel. I do know what is fun.”

Blue Petal:

All the ponies in this valley cheerin’ for meeee!

As I tell them of my many noble deeeeds.

My heroic actions put me on top-of-the-charts!

Squirrel:

(I think that’s something your ego far exceeds.)

Blue Petal blinked. “Uh... what was that last part, Mrs. Squirrel?”

“Nothing! Good day to you, mighty hero,” the squirrel said as she giggled and ran away, hopefully to seek out medical attention.

Today truly was a wonderful day for Blue Petal. The sun was warm, bright, and not in the sky anymore. The birds were singing. She was singing. That squirrel had also been singing. It seemed, in this valley, that the hills really were alive with music. She couldn’t help but worry that maybe there had been something wrong with the flowers she had eaten for breakfast.

With every verse, the village drew miles and miles closer. Already, she could make out a number of features. Only a few dozen buildings made up the village, mostly lined along one main road. Wood and thatch was the building material of choice when it came to homes. The only non-residential houses she could see were a blacksmith, a general store, and an inn. Unfortunately, no fences or other easily defensible structures existed. If these ponies were going to survive for more than a fortnight, she would have to correct that.

Blue Petal knew she would have her work cut out for her getting this place ready for the inevitable attack, but for now, she could only smile wider and wider as ponies poured out of the village to greet her. With so many ponies to join her, it was time for the big finale.

“Hello ponies of this happy village that I don’t know the name of,” Blue Petal said with a wave.

A villager with an accent oddly similar to the sun said, “It’s called Happy Village!”

“What a coincidence! Are you having a wonderful day?”

“Yes, I am,” the same villager replied.

“Such a wonderful day,” another villager said.

“Best day in years,” yet another said.

“Then, sing with me!” Blue Petal cried out as the villagers surrounded her.

All:

We just can’t help but smile — at this wonderful daaaay!

No worries! No work! No school! It’s a day to plaaaay!

Villager 1:

I feel like I could run a mile!

Villager 2:

It’s time to show off my new hairstyle!

Old villager 1:

Pull up a chair and stay awhile.

Two fillies:

Come play with us in our sand pile!

All male ponies:

We just can’t help but smile.

All female ponies:

We just can’t help but smilleeee.

All:

Just watch and you will seeeee,

With one hundred percent certaintyyyy,

Today is going to beeeeeee!

A wonderful day! (You got that right)

A wonderful day! (An absolute delight)

A wonderful day! (From morning until night)

Today is a wonderful day!

With the impromptu musical number over, the ponies of Happy Village went back about their business. Overwhelming happiness aside, Blue Petal had to get serious. This valley was a ripe fruit about to fall into the waiting clutches of evil, and she was going to be the one to save it.

The villager who had greeted Blue Petal first had remained outside. He shot her a smile and walked up close. “So, what brings you around these parts, stranger?”

“Stranger?” Blue Petal said with a raised eyebrow. “I’m the travelin’ big-time hero, Lady Blue Petal! Haven’t you heard of me?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I have. We don’t get out much, and traders only visit us no more than twice a year.”

Blue Petal gasped. This village may have been secluded, but to have never heard of her? “Are you sure you haven’t heard of me? I’ve not only been voted the best hero in the world five times runnin’, but I’ve also got three gold medals in epicness, a first place trophy in trophy-having, and a master’s degree in awesomeneering.”

The villager smiled weakly. “Oh? I-is that all?”

“Well, those are just the awards. If we want to talk celebrity endorsements, we’ll be here all day. Anyway, the point is simple: you got troubles, and I’m here to solve ‘em.”

“Well, that’s wonderful. We may be a small village, but we always have things needing to be done. Come inside. I’m sure we can find some work suitable for you.”

Blue Petal smiled. Now she was getting somewhere. It was time for her to show these ponies what being a big-time hero was all about.

The audience applauded once the lights darkened on stage. The band played some transitional music while the running crew hurried about in the darkness, switching the painted background, moving the props, and getting everything ready for the next scene.

“And so, Lady Blue Petal entered Happy Village in search of heroic deeds to perform,” Cheerilee said to the audience. “But, could such a small village contain the big action she craved? And how would these ponies react once they found out what a big-time hero Blue Petal thought herself to be?”

Blue Petal trudged along behind her overly enthusiastic tour guide, her head hung low and ears drooped. She had tried to be polite at first, but this villager would just not stop talking.

“...and so,” the villager said, “that’s the reason why we called this place Happy Village even though, statistically speaking, we are only at an average level of happiness when compared to other villages of similar size. Come to think of it, that’s also probably the reason why only earth ponies live here.”

“Uh huh.”

“And over here we have our library. Well, I say library, but it’s actually being rented out at the moment. Oh! Funny story about what happened to the previous librarian. You see—”

“Mr. Villager-whose-name-I-never-learned, weren’t we supposed to be talkin’ about the heroic deeds you needed me for?” Blue Petal asked.

“Oh! How rude of me. I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Village Greeter.”

Blue Petal stopped walking. “Really? Your name’s—you know what? Never mind. It was obviously fate. So, heroic deeds?”

“Well... I’m not too sure how heroic they are, but there are plenty of jobs that need doing,” Village Greeter said. “We have a new barn that still needs to be painted. Old Lady Hill is getting on in years and could use some help with her cleaning. Let’s see... there’s always wood to chop, or weeds to pick, or—”

“Sorry, Village Greeter, I think there may be some confusion. I’m lookin’ for heroic deeds. You know, beatin’ up behemoths, overthrowin’ overlords, rescuin’ royalty. Non-alliterative deeds work too, but they don’t sound as good in song.”

“I, uh... I can ask around, but... I think all our royals are in safekeeping." He frowned and shook his head. "Sorry, but I’m not so sure if you’ll find what you’re looking for here. This really is a quiet vil—”

“Help!” a filly’s voice yelled in the distance.

“There we go!” Blue Petal said as she took off in a gallop. “Sorry to run, but somepony needs a hero!”

It took only a moment for Blue Petal to spot the panicked filly running down the street. She positioned herself sideways across the filly’s path and struck dramatic pose number four: shoulder out, head high, and a smile showing off her pearly-whites. “It sounds like you need a hero!”

The filly looked up at Blue Petal, eyes widening. “Yes! Yes, I do need a hero!”

Blue Petal sat down and put of hoof on the filly’s shoulder. “Okay, kid. Calm down. What are we dealing with here? A volcano? Rabid snakes? Aliens?”

“Worse!”

The corners of Blue Petal’s lips twitched upward, but she kept her serious face on. “You accidentally broke a seal on some ancient evil, and now its corruption is seepin’ out? The world is going to end in three days, and you’re a time traveler sent back to stop it?”

“Even worse!”

Blue Petal’s heart pounded. This was it. The great evil that would doom this valley had started, and only she could stop it. She took a few breaths to steady herself and stared hard at the filly, years of practice letting her catch the light just right for her eyes to twinkle. “Lead the way. I’m here to help.”

The filly smiled wide and took off like a bolt of lightning. Blue Petal gave chase, but then nearly stumbled when the filly came to a sudden stop after only a dozen feet. The filly stared eagerly at a tree in a little flower garden. Blue Petal looked too, and even tried squinting her eyes, but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“So... is the tree evil?” Blue Petal asked. “Or maybe it’s a good tree that’s been corrupted by evil. It’s a bit small to be a world tree, but I suppose they all had to be little at some point.”

“It’s not the tree,” the filly said. “It’s my cat!”

Blue Petal’s steely resolve faded. She glanced up at a cat lying on a branch. It appeared to be asleep.

“Is... is the cat is evil?” Blue Petal asked hopefully, even though she realized this was likely only an overreacting filly.

“No! My cat is stuck and needs to be rescued!”

The cat’s tail twitched slowly as it purred. Blue Petal sighed. “Sorry, kid, but this is a job for your local fire department. Or at least somepony with a ladder and a high endurance to cat scratches.”

“Y—... you’re not going to save my cat?” the filly asked as her lip quivered and eyes watered. “I thought you were a hero!”

“I am. A big-time hero, to be precise. I only help with big problems. Now, if your cat was stuck on a manticore... or if your cat was a manticore, then I could help you.”

The filly ran off, yelling again for help. Blue Petal shook her head and walked down the street in hopes of finding somepony that actually required her services. She didn’t get far before a mare stepped in front of her.

“Excuse me?” the mare asked. “Did I hear you say that you were a big-time hero?”

“The biggest of the big-time heroes,” Blue Petal said, lifting her head and placing a hoof across her chest.

“What is that, exactly? Is it any different from a normal hero?”

Blue Petal set her hoof back down and looked at the mare. Did she really just ask what a big-time hero was? She may as well be asking if flowers smelled good. Or what color the sky was. Or why apples were the greatest fruit ever. It was something foals should have learned even before their own names.

Blue Petal then realized that this village wasn’t just secluded: it was downright deprived. She had to correct this oversight.

“Ma’am, you appear to be confused,” Blue Petal said, then noticed a small crowd gathering around her. She decided to speak extra loud and set everypony straight at once. “Big-time heroes are way different than normal heroes. A normal hero will solve your little problems, but a big-time hero will solve every problem you have! Even the ones you don’t know about yet! We do this by gettin' rid of your big problems so that the crushin’ weight of hopelessness doesn’t drag you down. Once the big problem is gone, the rest of your life feels better by comparison.”

The mare’s face lit up. “Really? You can solve all of my problems?”

Blue Petal opened her mouth to remind the mare that she only solved the big problems when a sense of foreboding came over her. The pianist had started to play with a lot of enthusiasm and was soon joined by... a banjo? When did the invisible band get a banjo player? Were invisible auditions going on?

The overexcited ponies came from everywhere.

Mare:

You’re a big-time hero? Can you help me move my shelf?

Fancy stallion:

Hello there, big-time hero. Will you do all our jobs yourself?

Mare:

Can you mop my floor?

Stallion 2:

Or fix my door?

Mare 2:

Mind my store?

Stallion 2:

I need help more!

Colt:

That’s what a big-time hero is? Then help me with a chore!

“Whoa now!” Blue Petal said as she backed away from the ever-increasing crowd. “I think there’s still a whole lot of confusion goin’ on. Let me see if I can clear it up.”

Blue Petal:

I am a big-time hero, but I can’t be bothered with small things.

And as a big-time hero, I’m very choosy with my helpings.

I’m afraid it’s true,

But I can’t help you,

With every issue,

And little snafu.

I am a big-time hero, and big deeds is what I do.

Mare 3:

If you’re a big-time hero, can you help me with my plants?

Blue Petal:

(Uh... no.)

Fancy Stallion:

If you’re a big-time hero, can you help me find romance?

Blue Petal:

(Sorry.)

Fancy Stallion:

Then can you help me,

With my goatee?

Mare:

Or my laundry?

Panicked pony:

I saw a bee!

Filly from before:

Please help me big-time hero, my cat is still stuck in a tree!

Blue Petal:

I’m a big-time hero, but your problems aren’t big enough!

As a big-time hero, my deeds need to be challengin’ and tough.

Please don’t complain,

Let me explain,

It’s about the fame,

I stand to gain,

Panicked pony:

I need a big-time hero now! The bees got in my mane!

“I, uh... suggest you go dunk your head in some water or somethin', then,” Blue Petal said.

The pony with bees crawling in his mane nodded once and ran away. The rest of the crowd looked confused and whispered amongst themselves. Blue Petal placed a hoof on her forehead and sighed. These ponies just didn’t get it.

Blue Petal:

Now, you still seem not to get it in your head.

I only do the big jobs, not the small.

When you become a famous hero with the life that I have led,

You learn that, frankly, it’s impossible to do it all.

And so it is the only jobs I do are the big ones,

So that my deeds will be known far and wide.

And now I hope you can understand my reasons,

For being picky on where my heroic talents are applied.

As a big-time hero, my jobs need to be boisterous and grand.

As a big-time hero, I need to be known ‘cross the land!

Now, I beg pardon,

But I need action.

Need to be the one,

That gets things done.

I am a big-time hero, the greatest hero under the sun!

Mare 2:

So, if you’re a big-time hero, you’d defeat the monsters in the night?

Blue Petal:

(You got it!)

Fancy Stallion:

And if you’re a big-time hero, you’d save the land from a deadly blight?

Blue Petal:

(Now we’re talkin’.)

Mare:

You’d battle armies?

Stallion 2:

And cross the seas?

Colt:

Fight yetis?

Panicked pony:

Destroy the bees!

Blue Petal:

Yes! That’s a big-time hero. Now, what troubles can I ease?

The crowd looked between each other, then turned as one and walked away.

“Hey!” Blue Petal yelled after the departing ponies. “Don’t you need a big-time hero for anythin’?”

“Sorry, big-time hero,” a mare called back, “this is a small village that only has small problems. Let us know if you decide you want to help us with something.”

Blue Petal’s mouth hung open. What was with this village? Everywhere that she had gone before had showered her in endless praise. How could there not be a single thing wrong that required a big-time hero? Had she been wrong about this valley? She decided to get to the bottom of this.

“Excuse me, sir?” Blue Petal said to a passing pony. “There’s not any other villages near here, are there? Like maybe one being attacked by bandits? Or one being attacked by monsters? Or one being attacked by monstrous bandits who, as a surprise twist, turn out to be the original villagers under a curse, and that the villagers in the village were actually the real monstrous bandits all along?”

“No. This is the only village around for many miles. Good day,” the pony said and then hurried in the opposite direction.

Blue Petal walked up to a mare. “Excuse me, miss? This may be a personal question, but you'd tell me if you were a cockatrice in disguise, right?”

The mare glanced around behind her and looked back at Blue Petal. “Yeah... I guess so.”

“So, are you?”

“A cockatrice in disguise?”

“Yes.”

The mare backed away. “I’m walking away now. Please don’t follow me.”

Blue Petal sighed and continued down the street.

“Blue Petal felt tired after she had searched the village but found no problems requiring a big-time hero,” Cheerilee said. “It had been a long journey to reach this valley, so she decided to find somewhere to relax, enjoy a hot meal, and rest her weary hooves.

“The ponies of this village seemed to have no need of her services, and it appeared that there really was no encroaching evil. Worse, though, was the odd way the villagers had reacted to her. Didn’t they know that big-time heroes were only supposed to help with big problems?

“Blue Petal soon found the inn she had seen earlier and stepped inside. It was there that a past long forgotten began catching up with her.”

“Take a seat. I’ll be with you in a moment,” a voice called from the kitchen after the bell above the door jingled.

After only one hoof inside the inn, Blue Petal instantly felt better about her day. Ponies sat at tables or at stools set up along a long counter. Delicious looking soups, salads, and sandwiches were being eaten, all while friendly conversations and laughter were shared. Several ponies gave Blue Petal a warm smile as she passed. A fireplace crackled merrily against the wall, and they even had a pianist playing—no, wait... that was just the invisible band that wouldn’t stop following her.

This inn was definitely one of the most pleasant she had even been in. However, if Blue Petal had to choose one thing that felt out of place in the room, then it would have been the unicorn stallion sitting on one of the stools, wearing a full suit of gray-colored armor. White or black armor made it easy to tell somepony’s alignment. Gray, on the other hoof, required more investigating. Blue Petal took a seat at the stool next to the knight and gave a relaxed sigh.

“Nice place they got here,” Blue Petal said in an attempt to be friendly: step one in determining a ponies place on the good-slash-evil scale.

The knight said nothing.

“So, uh, what’s good to eat here? I notice a lot of bowls of soup on the tables. Seems like you finished yours. Was it tasty?”

The knight did not reply.

“Do you have to take your helmet off to eat or is there a hatch the opens up? I suppose you could use a straw.”

Blue Petal watched the unmoving knight suspiciously. So far, he hadn’t scored any points, good or bad. It was time to step it up a notch.

“Strong silent type, huh? I can respect that. Or are you missin’ your tongue? I once knew a pony that had his tongue removed because he had annoyed everypony around him with his constant jabberin’.”

Blue Petal waited for the knight to say something. After the continued silence, she suspected this knight was nothing more than a suit of armor somepony set up as a joke.

“Snips!” Apple Bloom whispered, “it’s your line.”

“I thought you had five lines before I answered,” Snips whispered back.

“What? Oh! Darn it. I skipped the second one. Um... just say your line, and we’ll keep goin’.”

“Oh... uh... a lesson you ignored, it seems,” the knight said.

“There we go! Got you talkin’. So what brings you around these parts?”

The knight got up and walked towards the door.

“Hey, what’s the matter, Mr. Knight-I’ve-never-met-before? Was it somethin’ I said?”

The knight stopped with his hoof on the door handle, and the invisible band suddenly stopped playing. Blue Petal could sense the tension in him and prepared to grab her sword. However, when he turned his head to glare at her, her ears flattened, and she shied away.

“Never met before?” the knight said with growing fury. “Never! Met! Before? Blue Petal... you are the worst pony I have ever known.”

Blue Petal felt like she had been smacked. “What? I—”

“I used to look up to you. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been seeing what you’ve become?”

“What do you mean? The only thing I’ve become is a hero.”

The knight shook his head slowly. “Pathetic. I don’t know if I should be sad or angry at how blind you are. I've heard tale of your heroic deeds, but the way I see it, if any of them are even true, then it's only because you've been taking credit for someone else's actions.”

Blue Petal got up, grit her teeth, and stared the knight straight in the eyes—which she felt was rather impressive, considering that she could hardly even see his eyes behind his visor. “Never! Everythin’ I’ve done, I’ve done on my own. I would never steal the credit from somepony else!”

“I wish I could believe that, Blue Petal. Do you know what I did when I arrived in this village yesterday? I spent the whole day helping the villagers fix the roofs the last storm had damaged. Not because I was asked to, but because it needed to be done, and I was able to help. I spoke to, and shared laughs with, many of the villagers during the repairs. They offered me a room and a meal for my help, but that wasn’t my reward. My reward was knowing I helped somepony. How many ponies have you helped since arriving?”

“Well... none, yet. But, that’s only because I haven’t found anypony needing my particular brand of heroics.”

“Goodbye, Blue Petal,” the knight said, then stepped out into the street. The bell jingled violently as the door slammed shut.

Blue Petal took a deep breath and willed down her anger. “Sheesh. What’s his deal?”

“That’s the Stone Knight, or so he calls himself. He came here looking for the Forest of Trials,” a voice from behind Blue Petal answered.

Blue Petal turned around to see who had spoken. A mare that must have been the innkeeper stood on the other side of the counter. She wore a plain brown dress, an apron, a smug look, and, completely unfitting to her role, a tiara. Blue Petal found herself hating this innkeeper instantly for some reason.

“The forest of what?” Blue Petal asked as she returned to her stool. Her eyes kept moving to the tiara.

“The Forest of Trials. Supposedly, anypony that enters the forest will be presented with three trials to test their special qualities. If they pass, then they’re declared a... a, a super hero.”

“A super hero?” Blue Petal said as she stared at the innkeeper flatly. “Are you sure you don’t mean a true hero?”

“You know what I mean,” the innkeeper snapped, then grabbed a cloth to start wiping down the counter.

Blue Petal put a hoof on her forehead and sighed. “A true hero? What’s the difference between that and a regular hero?”

“A true hero is a hero who has discovered what it is that makes them a hero. They become a shining light that beats against the darkness, unable to be corrupted no matter how hard evil tries.”

Blue Petal rubbed her chin. “That does sound interestin’.”

The innkeeper finished her washing and turned with the damp cloth in her mouth. It whipped into Blue Petal’s horn, causing it to break off and land on the countertop.

And thus, Lady Blue Petal, the heroic unicorn knight, became an earth pony.

“Oops. Sorry, Apple Bloom,” Diamond Tiara whispered innocently.

Apple Bloom blushed as the audience chuckled. She picked up her headband and rushed to get it back on. “You did that on purpose!” she whispered.

Diamond Tiara placed a hoof on her chest and feigned shock. “What? I’d never. Why would you say such a thing?”

Blue Petal screwed her horn back in. Luckily, it had been detachable for just such an occurrence.

“Very interestin’ indeed,” Blue Petal said as she watched the innkeeper for any sudden movements. “But, I already know what makes me a hero.”

“Really? And what is that?”

“Well... let’s see. Bein’ brave, for one. I also know a thing or three about swingin’ a sword. Oh! I’m also plenty good with children—”

“Why won’t anypony save my cat!” a filly yelled from outside the inn.

“Most children, anyway. Uh... what else?”

“That’s all you can come up with?” the innkeeper asked more rudely than was necessary.

Blue Petal was beginning to suspect that this inn probably didn’t get much in repeat business. “I just have too many good qualities. It’s hard work choosing the best of the best. What qualities make you special, if you think it’s so easy?”

“Why, being the best at everything, of course.”

“That’s not your line!” Blue Petal hissed between her teeth.

The innkeeper ignored Blue Petal. “But, we aren’t talking about me. What is it that makes you a hero? The Forest of Trials will tell you. Don’t you want to find out? Hit it, Sam!”

The invisible pianist complied, hitting the keys most professionally. Apparently, his name was Sam, and he was a traitor.

Innkeeper:

What is a painter, if they are not creative?

Without their voice, what would a singer be?

Every profession has their own required talents.

This includes heroes too. Wouldn’t you agreeee?

The other patrons of the inn hummed along and harmonized with the music better than the innkeeper could. If all these ponies were loyal to the innkeeper, then Blue Petal hoped things wouldn't come to blows.

Innkeeper:

Whaat maakes youu special?

What makes you great?

Makes them adore you,

Can’t ignore you,

Want to celebrate?

Please tell me.

I want to knoooow.

What is it about you,

All throughout you,

That makes a hero?

The innkeeper hopped onto the countertop and twirled as she danced in time to the music. Blue Petal could only stare in disbelief as the ponies around her mimicked the innkeeper’s dance. They were too well choreographed for this to have been spontaneous. The other patrons were no longer satisfied with only humming and began singing along as well.

All but Blue Petal:

Some ponies are amazing at the arts.

Some ponies, they are better when baking.

There are ponies that are superior at playing sports,

When it comes to where your talents lie, there is no fakiiiing.

Be they lovers. Be they fighters.

Be they scholars who pull all-nighters.

Be they givers. Be they takers.

Knocker-downers or the makers.

What about you?

Let’s hear you speeeeak.

What’s inside you?

Please describe you.

What makes you unique?

The patrons and innkeeper settled down and returned to their places. Blue Petal considered backing away slowly and looking for another inn.

Innkeeper:

Without their speed, a runner is not so grand.

And a dancer? They aren’t so hot without their moves.

What is it that’s so special about a hero?

What is it about their selves that the world approoooves?

So tell me, hero.

Please set me straight.

Why do they love you,

Thinking of you,

On you, they fixate?

I’m just not sure.

Let me be fraaaank.

Why do they need you,

Always heed you,

When you’re a blank flank?

Blue Petal stared in shock. Had the innkeeper just insulted her through song by calling her a blank flank? Had she actually had the nerve to call the greatest hero to have ever lived a blank flank? Lady Blue Petal, with her cutie mark of a shining sword sheathed in a wreath of blue flowers, a blank flank? Blue Petal should have been laughing at such a ridiculous claim, but instead, she could only feel her cheeks and forehead burning.

“Well then,” Blue Petal said, making an effort to keep her teeth from clenching. “I think I’ll have to go check out that forest for myself and see if I can find out what makes me such a great hero.”

“It’s just south of the village. You can’t miss it,” the innkeeper said with a wicked smile.

Blue Petal got up and, while resisting the urge to use her magic to set the inn on fire, went out the door. If she ever turned evil, this tiara-wearing innkeeper had just made the top of her list.

The curtains closed as Cheerilee walked across the stage. She frowned briefly at what had just happened. Putting her smile back on, she turned towards the audience. “Blue Petal was confused with the way the villagers and the Stone Knight had reacted to her. It reminded her of days long past when she had first set out to be a hero. She had tried to start at the top, but she was unable to convince anypony that such a young filly could be a real hero. She had been forced to help with the little things, and in doing those little things, she had learned the joy of helping those in need.

“It had been a long time since Blue Petal had need of doing the little things. As she had traveled across the land, she had inspired more and more ponies to become heroes too. Like her, they also started small. With the little problems mostly taken care of, she had all the time she needed to focus on the big ones. It felt good being recognized for her deeds, but it had felt better just seeing the joy she brought others.

“The Stone Knight’s words had hurt Blue Petal because she had realized that, at some level, they were true. She knew she had to get to the Forest of Trials. She had to prove that she still had whatever it was that made a pony a hero.

“After Blue Petal exited the inn, she took a detour and walked to the small garden with the tree. A filly sat beneath its branches, every so often wiping the tears from her eyes. Several ponies covered in scratches looked sadly at the filly, but they kept their distance from the cat with the sharp claws. Blue Petal reached out with her magic, gently lifted the sleeping cat through the air, and placed it next to the filly.

“One little thing, and it brought so much joy.”

Cheerilee smiled to herself for a moment before continuing. “And so ends the first act of tonight’s play. I hope everypony is having fun. Don’t wander too far. We’ll be starting act two in fifteen minutes.”