So far, the Gala was a success. Even the snobbiest of ponies were enjoying themselves. While Pinkie Pie kept the entertainment going, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were hanging with the orphans, who were eager to see them both.
"I wanna be just like you!" they kept saying to either one or the other.
"Aw, shucks," Applejack blushed.
"Think big, kids," Rainbow said. "With a lot of practice and guts, you can go anywhere!"
"Girls," Twilight interjected. "Have either of you seen Fluttershy? It's almost time for her to go on."
"She wasn't in her room?" Applejack asked.
"No, I've checked."
"She's probably in the garden. Ya know how she feels more comfortable with the critters."
"I'll go get her," Rainbow volunteered.
Indeed, Fluttershy was in the garden, warming up her voice. She was so nervous, she felt like it was going to crack.
"Oh, what am I doing?" she muttered to herself. "I can't go up in front of every pony and sing."
"Why not? We all know you're great."
She turned to see Rainbow Dash in her Wonderbolts uniform. She embraced her with a smile.
"I'm happy to see you."
"Really?" Rainbow asked. "Because the others told me that you haven't been very happy lately."
Fluttershy glanced down at her hooves. "Well, um..."
"They say it's because you keep having nightmares about Discord?"
She looked up at her with serious eyes. "It was different. In my dreams, he usually just holds me and laughs. That's what I dreamt he did last night, but this time, he was..." She shivered. "Stroking my mane and...I was letting him. I didn't even put up a fight. I..."
Rainbow put her hoof around her. "Hey, it was just a dream. You've got to hang loose. This is a party! That reminds me. It's time for your song."
"Oh, I don't really feel like singing..."
"Don't tell me you've still got stage fright! Come on, don't you remember how you helped us all with that hurricane?"
"Singing's different from flying."
"You're a great singer! You were able to sing that pet song with me."
"That was when I was only around you and the critters. But there are hundreds of ponies here, watching me and..."
"Don't worry. I'll be right there to support you. We all will."
Fluttershy gulped. "Okay."
Discord was bored with the entire scene, though he had to admit this year's gala was much more interesting than last year's and the year before. Still, there just wasn't enough chaos! So to entertain himself, he pulled a few pranks on the posh ponies, like making a hare appear in the punch bowl, but he could not draw attention to himself until the time was right.
He looked around the room and noticed that the little dragon Spike was attempting to get a dance with Rarity. He rolled his eyes. Give it up, kid. It's never going to happen. Though he had to admire his persistence. Meanwhile, that party pony Pinkie Pie was unknowingly making a fool of herself.
"I'm the P to the INKIE to the P to I to E," she sang. "And while I'm at it ponies, WON'T YOU PLEASE BE FRIENDS WITH ME?! I'm Pinkielicious!"
It was then that Twilight pulled the microphone away. Thank you! Discord silently said to himself. You finally do something right!
The princess tapped the mic, getting every pony's attention.
