It's Saturday night, 7:30 p.m., and all members of the Mane 6 have arrived in the talent show, except for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Lincoln is organizing all the act schedules: other than the Mane 6, we have Snips & Snails' try at stand-up comedy. the Great and Powerful Trixie's magic act, and the Derpy Hooves Show (featuring "Spike the Smarty Pants"), and other rather irrelevant acts. Twilight goes to his room, to see if she can help with anything while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy aren't here.

  "Um... Lincoln? Do you need help back there?", asks Twilight.

  "There you are, Twilight. Good to see you! I knew you would be here! I just knew!", says Lincoln, still amazed by yesterday's jam session.

  "We'll do our best, Lincoln. But anyway, can I help you with anything?"

  "No need to worry, Twilight. I'm almost done here, and the show is almost starting. Is everyone here as well?"

  "We're still waiting for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. What time is it?"

  "It's 7:55. Don't worry, you are the second act, so there's still time."

  "Well, I guess I better go then."

  "Good luck! Do your best!"

  "I will."

  Back in the audience, Fluttershy had arrived, with an extremely nervous look, with Rainbow Dash forcing her in.

  "Rainbow Dash, you don't understand! What if I end up being worse than in the Cloudsdale episode?", protests Fluttershy, showing a really bad case of stage fright.

  "Come on, Fluttershy, that was, like, ten years ago. Your voice has changed a lot since then.", answers Rainbow Dash.

  "What if I get so nervous that my voice will come back to its child state?", fears Fluttershy, sweating from all the folks that are watching her, with trust in their eyes. They know the Mane 6 are going to rock this town inside-out.

  "Just look at those people, Fluttershy. Do you see how much they love you just by looking at their faces? They trust you. The entire city trusts you. The Mane 6 trusts you. I trust you. Just believe in yourself and rock the freaking Casbah!"

  "Rock the what... ?"

  "Nevermind. Just blow their minds up."

  "Blow their minds up?! I thought we were going to play music!"

  "This is the Fluttershy I know and love... what I meant by that is, give them what they want. Give them the greatest music in Equestria. You got that?"

  "... thanks, Rainbow Dash. You really know how to cheer me up!", says Fluttershy, happy to count on her friends again.

  "Seriously, you two are a really cute couple.", jokes Pinkie Pie again, but with a more serious tone.

  "I'm starting to agree with you, Pinkie.", says Rarity, with Applejack nodding.

  "Oh, stop it, you...", says Fluttershy, slightly red in the face.

  "Attention, everyone!", says Lincoln Rhettfield. "The show is starting now!"

  Everyone cheered and applauded.

  "For our first act, we have... Snips and Snails, stand-up comedians!"

  "Hey, everyone.", says Snips, with a worried look. "I don't know how to say this, but Snails hasn't arrived yet. So, I think I better start the show my myself. So, how's everyone doing? Good, I suppose. Is anyone not feeling good here?"

  "Haha! He's so funny!", laughs Pinkie Pie.

  "How 'bout you? Yeah, you, the rainbow-haired one. Why the blue face?"

  "It's naturally blue.", says Rainbow Dash, a bit nervous for being the first butt-for-a-joke in the crowd.

  "Gee, no need to be so dark. This is a comedy show after all!" Everyone laughs. Snips is quite the joker. "You should learn with your yellow-coated friend at your side."

  Rainbow Dash turns to Fluttershy. She looks really happy, and mouths out a thank-you for the blue pegasus.

  "Hey, Snips! Sorry I was late again!", yells out Snails, rushing through the door.

  "Hey, Snails! Where have you been?"

  "I was running away from some kidnappers."

  "Kidnappers?!"

  "Yeah! They're trying to make all kids nap, by singing lullabies!"

  "That sounds even creepier than an actual kidnapper."

  "It is! Lucky they lost their sight of me."

  "Wait a second... you didn't see any kidnappers, didn't you?'

  "... okay, I'll admit. I saw a spider in my house, and was too afraid to get it out." Everyone laughs. "But you got to admit, spiders are pretty creepy little things."

  Everyone agrees.

  "I mean, just look at them. They've got eight eyes! Eight freakin' eyes! Why do they need so many?"

  The award for Best Stand-Up Comedy Act was already guaranteed. I'd like to point out that Fluttershy was agreeing with every single word coming out of Snails' mouth since now.

  "Like, eight legs is not that excessive, but eight eyes? Not to mention, some of them have hair! Why the heck would a spider need hair? Don't even get me started on how they kill those poor insects. Trapping them in silk is already scary enough, but then they melt their internal organs with their poisoned juice. Talk about fly hell."

  Those were the two funniest jokes they have made, and if I pointed out every single one, this would be one darn long story. Some parts of the crowd laughed throughout the entire show. Those two had their destiny decided.

  "Haha... well, ladies and gentleman... there you have it. Pfft... Snips & Snails, stand-up comedians.", says Lincoln, unable to hold his laughter.

  "Take care, y'all!", yells out Snips.

  "Don't do anything I would do!", yells out Snails. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were roffling on the floor.

  "Hehe... anyway, now to our second act: the ones you were all waiting for... the Mane 6!"

  Well, how do I describe this again? They pretty much played all they could. The song itself was an original by Fluttershy, and it was 10 minutes long. It was worth all the time spent learning it. It was basically a mixture of progressive, punk and Steely Dan-jazz. Kind of what you would see in a Frank Zappa concert. Pinkie's bass was a little better, and it doesn't help that she was even happier than yesterday. Rainbow Dash tried to not look too much at Fluttershy... to no avail. That didn't slow her drumming, though. Eventually, even ol' Fluttie was going wild, having lost her stage fright.

  At the end of the talent show, the prizes were given. Snips & Snails won the Best Stand-Up Comedy Act award. Derpy and Spike won the Best Comedy Act award. The Mane 6 won the Best Musical Act award. There were other awards as well, but only these ones matter now.

  "You see, Fluttershy? They love you!", says Rainbow Dash.

  "I think they love us equally.", answers Fluttershy.

  "Can I get your autograph?", asks Lincoln to Fluttershy.

  "Um... sure. Got any pens?"

  "I got one right here."

  "... there you go."

  "Thank you! I'd like you to know that I am your greatest fan right now!"

  "Aside from me, of course.", says Rainbow Dash.

  "Rainbow Dash, you don't have to be that supportive...", says Fluttershy. "I'm feeling just fine."

  "I know, but you can always use some extra support, right?"

  "... I guess I could."

  "Who's the leader of your band?", asks Lincoln.

  "Pinkie had the idea.", answers Rainbow Dash.

  "Where is she? I must talk to her about something really important."

  "I'm right here, Linkret!", says Pinkie Pie, suddenly coming out of nowhere.

  "Could I sign you and your band in a record deal?"

  "... that would be great!... what is a record deal?"

  "What I'm saying is, can I hire you a manager?"

  "A manager?"

  "Pinkie, I thought you said we were a local band.", says Fluttershy, with Twilight nodding nervously.

  "Linkret, I really appreciate your request, but I don't think my bandmates would appreciate it, to have their normal lives being held down.", says Pinkie Pie, trying to sound as much professional as she could.

  "What?! You mean you don't want to be famous?", asks Lincoln.

  "I didn't say that. What I said is, me and my bandmates would rather be living our normal lives together. We can still play at parties though, so you can book us anytime you want!"

  "... I understand you, Pinkie. I'm happy you've made this decision.", says Lincoln, never seeing such a successful band refuse fame and fortune.

  "You're lucky that Rarity is outside with Applejack, Pinkie.", says Twilight. "She would have a heart attack from knowing you just refused an opprtunity to become rich and famous for our whole lives. I'm proud of you, though."

  "It's not like you wanted to be rich and famous, did you, Twilight?", asks Pinkie Pie. Twilight didn't know Pinkie Pie had that much wisdom.

  "Yeah, I'm not ready for that. I could sure use some money though.", Twilight giggled.

  "Hey, Pinkie. What did Lincoln say to you?", asks Rarity, coming inside with Applejack.

  "Um... nothing that important. Just some compliments and gonna-get-far's. Y'know, that kinda stuff.", answers Pinkie Pie.

  "Shouldn't we go home then?", asks Applejack. "It's gettin' kinda late outside. Mah family must be worried sick about me."

  "Yeah, it's getting kind of late.", agrees Twilight. "Oh, hey there, Spike."

  "Hey, Twilight!", says Spike. "You guys did great!"

  "You were awesome too, Spike. I knew you would win the comedy award. Where's your assistant Derpy?"

  "Oh, she went home. A bit tired for compliments, and so am I. I think we should go home."

  "I was just about to say that. Come on, girls, let's get out of here!"

  And so, the six ponies went home. Rainbow Dash escorted Fluttershy home, since it was getting really dark outside. Fluttershy herself was too excited to see anything anyway.

  "Did you see that? My first autograph! I have never signed an autograph before, and it feels so good!", says an excited Fluttershy.

  "I'm happy to hear that.", agrees Rainbow Dash. She has listened to worse hyper attacks. Next Chapter: I See a Darkness Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes