“Sometimes, it’s just great to bring new people into the mix.”

- John Oates

The spotlight beamed down on Twilight as she stood still on the stage.  It is her first time performing in front of an audience.  She had practicing for weeks and now she is actually going to do it. She is extremely excited to get this chance.

But she is just as nervous as she is excited. She is afraid that she’ll forget the lyrics, or her voice will crack during a long note, or…snap out of it Twi, she thinks to herself, Just remember that Shining is out in the audience cheering for you no matter what.  Your BBBFF will always be there for.  Remember, don’t do anything fancy, just sing the song and you’re done.  She took a few breathes and began to sing.

You had plenty of money 1922

The band behind her begins to play a soft, jazz tune.

You let other women make a fool of you

Why don’t you do right like some other men do?

Twilight begins to walk down the platform, her purple, glittery dress sparkles with every step she takes.

Get out of here and get me some money too

All the men in the room begin to huddle around the platform trying to get close to Twilight.  Shining watches in annoyance, he didn’t appreciate all these mouth breathers huddling around his baby sister.  He wanted to push them away but he didn’t want to ruin Twilight’s song.

Twilight continued to sing and strut down the platform, even with all the men.  Thankfully none of them were being grabby.

You’re sitting down, wondering what it’s all about

If you ain’t got no money, they will put you out

Why don’t you do right like some other men do?

Get out of here and get me some money too.

Twilight steps off the platform and begins to walk between the tables.  She runs her hands over the tables and over the backs of chairs.  

If you had prepared twenty years ago

You wouldn’t be wanderin’ now from door to door

Why don’t you do right like some other men do?

Get out of here and get me some money too

I fell for you jivin’ and I took you in

Now all you got to offer me’s a drink of gin

Twilight steps back on the platform and begins to walk back towards the main stage.

Why don’t you do right like some other men do?

Get out of here and get me some money too

Once she’s on the main stage she looks back at the audience and begins to wrap up her song.

Why don’t you do right, like some other men do?

Like some other men do.

As she finishes the last line, the curtain closes as the music begins to fade.

The whole place begins to cheer.  Everyone, including Sombra, was really impressed with her performance.  Sombra sits in his chair, his face a little shocked but yet pleased. There actually is some decency in this club, he thinks to himself.

“Alright ladies and gentlemen, let’s give another round of applause for Ms. Twilight Sparkle,” says the announcer, the room fills with applause and cheer once more, “Thank you for being here tonight, we’re going to take a quick break right now.  Feel free to grab a drink or some grub; we’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

Everyone gets up from their seat to get some more drinks, some food, or to go to the bathroom.  Sombra and Shining continue to sit and sip on their drinks that they got during Twilight’s song. “So, what did you think,” Shining asked Sombra.

Sombra took another swig of his drink before answering, “She has a lovely singing voice; it really fits her beauty.”

“Hold on dude, that’s my sister you’re talking about!”

Sombra’s eyes widen in surprise.  He quickly jolts his head towards Shining, whose face is a little bit annoyed.  “That was your sister,” Sombra asks.  He couldn’t see it; there was no way she could be related to him.  They look almost nothing alike.  That Siren with her lovely voice couldn’t be related to this man.

“Yes, and I don’t really appreciate the fact you may be thinking about hitting on her.” His voice began to rise from annoyed to offensive.  This kind of attitude was never revealed to Sombra at work before.  If Shining ever showed this kind of attitude at work he would surely be kicked to the curb.  Then again they aren’t at work right now, so Sombra has no authority over him here.

Sombra lifted up his hands in defense, “Easy dude I meant no offense.”

Shining smiled and lightly punched Sombra’s arm, “It’s alright dude I was just joking with you.  I bet you can now see how we’re siblings, we share the same complexion,” Shining says as he whips his hair back with his hand.

All Sombra did was give him a confused look. “Again, she’s your sister,” he said as sort of an insult toward Shining.

“Haha, that was so funny I forgot…”

“Shiny,” shouted a voice from the far right of the club.

Shining and Sombra looked to the right and saw Twilight running towards their table, wearing a tan trench coat to cover her sparkly dress.  Shining shot up from his seat and ran towards her.  They met in the center and gave each other a big hug, “Hey Twily, you were amazing up there!”

“Thanks BBBFF,” said Twilight, “I was really nervous up there, I was about to just run off the stage and get the heck out here.”

“Well it’s a good thing Rarity gave you those lessons on handling your stage fright.”

“Indeed,” Twilight looked to the side and saw Sombra standing right behind Shining, “Who’s your friend?”

Shining turned around to see Sombra standing there, “Oh, Sombra this is Twilight, Twilight this is Sombra my boss.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Sombra said holding out his hand.

“Oh a gentleman,” Twilight says as she shakes his hand, “Much more appropriate than some of your friends from basic.”

“Indeed,” Sombra agrees, “I had him and one of his friends over at my dorm for dinner once, while we were in college, and…well let’s just say it took me about a week to get the stains out of my carpet.”

“Oh that’s nothing,” said Twilight, “one time one of his basic buddies ‘accidentally’ broke one our mother’s fine china. She was so furious that she literally kicked his butt out onto the curb.”

“I’m starting to think you guys don’t appreciate my choice in friends,” said Shining.

“Well to be honest, you don’t exactly have a keen eye when it comes to picking out the people you want to be friends with,” said Sombra.

“Yep, your friends define who you are,” said Twilight.

“Well I love you too sis,” said Shining.

“Love you too,” Twilight said while giving him a hug.  Once she pulled away from the hug she began to walk off, “I got to go change and head back home, I got work tomorrow.  See ya later BBBFF.”

“See ya Twily,” Shining shouted back.

“We better call it a night as well,” Sombra said while looking at his watch, it was a quarter till ten. “We still have work tomorrow.”

“You do but I don’t,” said Shining, “I finished all my work for this week, remember?”

“That doesn’t mean I still don’t have work for you to do,” Sombra said while putting his coat on, “So let’s get going.”

“Fine,” Shining groaned while getting his coat.

“By the way,” Sombra says as he begins to walk out with Shining, “Why did she call you ‘BBBFF?’”

“It stands for Big Brother Best Friend Forever,” Shining replied.

Sombra halted instantly after what he just heard.  He was still for a moment while Shining exited the building.  He then leaned his forward while his right hand cups his eyes. “Good Lord, I’m friends with a ten year old,” he groaned to himself.

Sombra and Shining parted ways after they exited the club.  Sombra went to his car, which parked not far from the ally on the street, got in it, and headed straight for home.

When he entered his house, which is the penthouse of the Crystal Castle Estates, he began to get ready for bed.  Once he was all done, he sat on his dark grey bed, holding the bottle of chaos pills which he pulled from his briefcase. He rolled the orange bottle in his hands pondering whether he should continue taking these.

If I take them the nightmares will go away but I’ll also be dishonoring her, he thinks to himself, but if I don’t take them the nightmares will remain but I’ll be honoring her. He went back and forth in his head, debating whether or not he should take them.  He finally lets out sigh, “Screw it,” he says.  He pops open the bottle and pulls out one of the blue and yellow pills.  He reaches over to a glass of water sitting on his nightstand, tosses the pill into his mouth, and chugs the water down.

Sombra sets the glass and the bottle on the nightstand.  He shuts off the light, lies back on his bed, and hopes he can get a good night’s rest.  Not from the nightmares, but from the sin he had just committed.