I woke up the next day and those few days must've got the better of me as I checked my pocketwatch to see that it was already the beginning of the afternoon. That's the first time I've slept past my breakfast and lunch time, so getting up and having a quick made lunch, I was more awake and ready for the day. I left my home and thought of seeing my love, I went over to her boutique home and knocked on the door.

"Oh hi Bond, are you looking for Rarity?" Coco asked as she opened the door.

"Hi Coco, yeah I am, do you know where she is?" I asked.

"I think she was in the park with a few other ponies on stage where there's a market taking place."

"A market...anyways, thanks Coco."

"No problem."

Coco then closed the door as I trotted down the town and towards the park, I found a few stalls and tents already up with all the ponies currently working, I then saw a stage on a small hill from the park. I walked closer to it to see Rarity and three other ponies dressed in the same outfits in a row. Spike was there too as he looked on from behind the stage, watching over a box full of more outfits.

"Alright, Pony Tones, let's run through that again!" Rarity announced as she blew on a pitch pipe.

A short performance began with Big Mac taking the lead and the others harmonizing.

Everypony's sayin' you should learn to express your voice

But if talk doesn't seem like it's the answer

The other three joined in.

Luckily you have a choice

When you find you've got the music

Got the music in you

Find you've got the music

Got the music in you

The performance was then over, me and a few others smiled and applauded whilst Fluttershy sighed.

"Hm, why are you sighing Fluttershy?" I asked, "Was it the performance?"

"Well um...it's much more than that." she replied before she blushed.

"Oooh and what's that?"

"I'll tell you another time."

"Fair enough."

"Woo-hoo, yeah! You were awesome!" Spike complimented.

"Thank you, Spike, but this is an ensemble." Rarity replied.

"That's what I mean, you were all awesome...even though it's not my kind of music."

"Oh, I thought you were all amazing, Pony Tones!" Fluttershy commented.

"Thanks, Fluttershy!" the mare with the sparkling pink and orange mane replied.

"Now, Pony Tones, I want you all to rest your voices for the remainder of the day." Rarity ordered, "We'll do a final run-through tomorrow before the big event, alright?"

"Eeyup" Big Mac replied.

The ponies then left and Rarity finally noticed me, she jumped off the stage and hugged me before sharing a kiss.

"Afternoon my darling, I was wondering when you were going to be here."

"Yeah, I way overslept this time but I'm here now, my love." I replied sheepishly.

"Of course you are..."

We kissed again before Fluttershy got our attention.

"Oh, Rarity, the Pony Tones are really gonna make the Ponyville Pet Centre fundraiser so special. Thank you so much for helping me help the animals."

"Oh, yes. It is wonderful when a plan comes together without any sort of drama, isn't it?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Ponyville Pet Centre fundraiser?" I asked, "Umm why am I always the last one to know?"

"Because you don't read the papers, remember?" Fluttershy answered.

"Ohhh...yeah, I should've known that too well." I then turned my attention to Rarity. "So anything I can do to help?"

"You can be here tomorrow to see my group rehearse, it would be wonderful, dear."

"Of course I'll be here for you tomorrow, let's just hope nothing goes wrong before then."

We then spent the rest of the day, looking over at everything else that was being put in place for the upcoming event.

When it was the next day, I was at the stage area with Rarity and the two ponies who's names I learned were Torch Song and Toe-Tapper when Fluttershy arrived.

"Morning, Fluttershy!" Torch greeted.

"Good morning, Pony Tones!" Fluttershy replied.

"Actually, we're the Pony Tones minus one tone." Rarity corrected, "Big Mac is inconveniently late."

"I hope what I said yesterday wasn't me jinxing it." I pondered.

We then heard wheezing and snorting coming from Big Mac who turned up...yep, I totally jinxed it.

"Well, there you are!" Rarity lightly scolded, "Haven't I told you about punctuality? Nah-ah! I don't want to hear it"

She blew the pitch pipe but we heard Big Mac gulp nervously.

"Big Mac? Can you please start the song?"

"Nope." he replied with his voice croaked.

"Big Mac! Did you lose your voice?"

"Eeyup."

All the other ponies gasped.

"Whatever did you do to cause this?"

"Well..."

Big Mac talked about what happened after they had the rehearsal yesterday. He was part of the Ponyville Turkey call and he had used his voice on it nearly all afternoon.

"A...a...a turkey call? You lost your voice doing a...a turkey call?!" Rarity asked somewhat angrily.

"Lost his voice and the title!" Pinkie replied from nowhere before she did a gobble noise, bouncing away.

I facehoofed as the others were standing there, confused.

"Now we can't perform tonight!"

"Wait, what? No! You have to perform!" Fluttershy exclaimed, "Otherwise, the fundraiser will be a disaster!"

"Well, we cannot perform tonight with only three voices."

"Why not?"

"It would take rearranging all the music, and we just don't have time. I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I have no remedy for this situation."

I then thought of an idea, thinking back to an event long ago which the others might have forgotten.

"Fluttershy, Rarity, I've got an idea." I said, "We're going to Zecora's home."

"In the Everfree Forest?" Fluttershy shivered.

"Yes I'm afraid, but it's daylight so nothing evil will happen."

"Alright darling, lead the way." Rarity said.

We left the stage and walked to the forest with Big Mac in tow until we reached Zecora's home, we knocked on her door and walked inside to have Zecora check up on Big Mac as she looked into his mouth.

"I can cure this pony that is hoarse, but it will take a longer course." she said.

"Uh, come again?" Rarity asked.

"Mm. I can mix a brew that can work just right, but it cannot heal him by tonight."

"Oh, no! Ah! Where are we ever going to find a deep voice to replace Big Mac's?" Fluttershy exclaimed worryingly.

Zecora giggled for some reason whilst I giggled at Fluttershy worrying about Big Mac, I may have stumbled onto something.

"Pardon me, Zecora, but this is no laughing matter!" Rarity exclaimed, "We need a bass voice for the harmonies to work! Without it, the performance will be ruined!"

"Please, forgive my strange elation, but I was not laughing at your situation." Zecora replied,

"Then what?"

"Remember when you pony folk stumbled into poison joke? Miss Fluttershy had an unusual change, deepening her vocal range."

"Umm apart from me, I didn't step into it." I intervened.

"We know, dear..." Rarity replied, "But yes, I remember. Fluttershy, your voice became really low, making it sound like..."

"Flutterguy!" Fluttershy gasped.

"With these leaves I can mix a brew, creating the same effect on you." Zecora replied as she brought over a bowl of the poison joke leaves.

"Zecora, that's fantastic!"

"Yes! I'll do it! I'd do anything for the animals!" Fluttershy added.

"Why, you'd even appear on stage!"

"Oh. Except that. I just can't bring myself to sing on stage in front of everypony."

"What if you sang not in front of everypony?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"What if Big Mac was onstage, moving his lips while you're behind the curtains singing his part? It would be just like singing in your house! Nopony would know it was you!"

"Even still, I just don't think I could sing in front of..."

"You must! For the animals!" Rarity stated.

"Oh...Okay then..." she then gulped, "Mix it up!"

"Hey, nice reference to a forum game." I replied.

"Umm what's a forum?"

They looked at me, wondering what I just said.

"Oh come on, you know this happens from me, right?"

The other laughed, making me feel relieved, I am so glad that I can get away with being a little crazy.

It was then the evening time at the event and a small crowd was taking place by the stage, I was with the other mares before Rarity came out on stage and I smiled at her.

"Good evening, citizens of Ponyville!" she announced, "I want to thank you all for coming out tonight and generously supporting the Ponyville Pet Centre! Thanks to your kindness, pets are finding loving homes, and we're sure to meet our fundraising goal!"

"Where's Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"Probably hidin'. You know how much that pony hates the spotlight." Applejack replied.

"Just wait and see..." I added.

"So, with no further ado, please welcome the Pony Tones!"

We all cheered as the curtains opened and the performance began.

Trot outside and you see the sunshine

Something's in the air today

Sky is clear and you're feelin' so fine

Everything's gonna be a-okay

If you listen carefully

On every corner there's a rhythm playing

Then it happens suddenly

The music takes you over and you'll

Find you've got the music

Got the music in you

Find you've got the music

Got the music in you

Oh, o-o-oh

Everypony's sayin' you should learn to express your voice

But if talk doesn't seem like it's the answer

Luckily you have a choice

When you find you've got the music

Got the music in you

Find you've got the music

Got the music in you

Got the music, got the music in you!

The performance ended and it seemed to go off without any problems, we all cheered as I blew a kiss to Rarity.

"Pony Tones! Pony Tones!" the crowd chanted before they trotted away in excitement before they caught a moose among the stampede.

"THE MOOSE IS LOOSE!" I shouted, but no pony paid attention to me.

"Pony Tones! That was truly amazing!" Twilight exclaimed.

"And you sounded better than ever, big brother!" Applejack complimented.

Big Mac chuckled.

"Fluttershy, you were on the wrong side of the curtain! You totally missed the show!" Pinkie said.

"Uh, just like a true professional, Fluttershy was backstage making sure everything ran smoothly!" Rarity replied, "And it was perfect."

Then we saw two pegasuses walking by us.

"That was fantastic, Pony Tones!" the big one said.

"My new puppy and I thought it was super-duper crazy good!" the little filly added.

"Why, thank you!" Rarity replied.

"And we were wondering if you would consider performing at my daughter Zipporwhill's cute-ceañera."

"Will you? Will you?" she asked hopefully.

"We'd love to! When is it? Next week? Next month?"

"Tomorrow!" they replied.

"Oh, gracious, I'm terribly sorry, but that's much too last minute."

"Oh, no..."

"Well...I understand."

I walked towards Fluttershy and Rarity and I did kinda feel sorry for the filly.

"Oh, Rarity, we can't disappoint that sweet little filly." Fluttershy said in her deep low voice.

"Are you sure you're up for it?"

Fluttershy nodded, but I had a bit of doubt.

"Are you really sure?" I asked with concern "Cause what if the effect of the poison joke wears off during the performance?"

"You do raise a good point, dear." Rarity agreed, "We'll get some more just in case."

When the next day rolled on by, we were at Zipporwhill's cute-ceañera in the town hall and the Mayor was present. The Pony Tones did their performance with me hearing Fluttershy singing her low voice behind the curtains. The fillies cheered when they finished.

"Whoo, yeah, alright! We got the Pony Tones, we got the Pony Tones!" the filly exclaimed.

"Amazing, Pony Tones!" Mayor Mare commented, "And it would be even more amazing if you could perform at my ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow!"

"Ribbon-cutting, that's a ceremony?" I asked in confusion.

"Of course...it's not a pointless ceremony if that's what you're thinking."

"No, no, no. I just find it odd, but I guess it's part of being of Mayor."

"It is...so anyway Pony Tones, are you willing to do it for me?"

"Oh, Mayor, we would love to, but..." Rarity paused as she cleared her throat "Would you excuse us for a second, Mayor?"

"Certainly."

After a moment, Fluttershy and Rarity came back out.

"The Pony Tones will happily perform at your ceremony!"

Since then, the Pony Tones were getting asked to perform in a few other places, but I still had my doubts. They said they had spare poison joke but I was worried, thinking how long were they going to keep that up. I hope Big Mac's voice gets better soon, I'd rather have Fluttershy spared of embarrassment after all the hard work I've helped her with over the years.

We were over at Sugarcube Corner backstage, Fluttershy and I were talking about something until Rarity and Big Mac arrived.

"Fluttershy, we must talk to you." Rarity said, "Big Mac's voice is all better!"

"Eeyup." Big Mac added, proving his voice was clear and normal.

"That's great news, now we shouldn't have to worry about missing a low voice anymore. I suggest not doing the turkey call in future, Big Mac."

"Eeyup."

"Now you can bathe in the poison joke antidote and sound like your lovely self again." Rarity added.

"I'm gonna have to interrupt you there, my love." I said to her, "Because we have a problem."

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Well, Fluttershy wasn't sure if that performance you had before this one we have coming up shortly was her last performance."

"Yes, I wanted to sing one more time, but we've run out of poison joke." Fluttershy added.

"And I had an inkling that it was going to go horribly wrong and that she would be scarred by feeling embarrassed and humiliated in a way."

"I then remembered how much Bond has helped me and doesn't want me to throw that away, so I made a tough choice of not doing the low voices anymore long before you told me."

Just then, she gasped when we realized her voice was now back to normal...so much for needing the antidote.

"Looks like I'm back to my old normal singing voice." Fluttershy smiled.

"I will admit, as much as I have loved you singing with us." Rarity replied as she put her hoof around Fluttershy, "It means much more to me to hear the real you sing, even when you don't want to share it, which is understandable."

"Thank you Rarity."

They shared a friendly hug whilst I sneaked over to Big Mac.

"Lemme guess, you have a crush on Fluttershy?" I whispered.

"Eeyup." he replied, whispering back.

I then sneaked back to where I was before as Fluttershy and Rarity pulled out of the hug.

"Well, we should go and get ready for this performance." Rarity said. "We'll see you after the performance."

We nodded as I gave Rarity a kiss before Fluttershy and I left backstage and joined the crowd to watch the performance.

When the performance was over, I noticed Fluttershy writing down what she had learnt in our group journal.

"Sometimes, being afraid can stop you from doing something that you love, but hiding behind these fears means you're only hiding from your true self. It's much better to face those fears so you can shine and be the best pony you can possibly be."

"Great lesson there, it also serves as a reminder of what you learnt before when you and the other pegasi brought up that water to Cloudsdale." I agreed.

Fluttershy gave me a friendly hug before she went over to Big Mac and they were chatting quite a bit...I already knew why though.

It was nearly approaching midnight, so we all exchanged our farewells and walked back to our homes. When I got back in mine, I walked straight over to my bed and waited for my eyes to close so I could sleep. Fluttershy singing isn't new to me as I have heard her sing a lot before and the Pony Tones sing real terrific, especially when my lovely Rarity is with them. I hope I get to see more of them and perhaps Fluttershy singing on her own soon. Next Chapter: Twilight Time Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 24 Minutes