Long Live

I Knew You Were Trouble

🌸Fluttershy🌸

The auditorium was filled with murmurs and low laughter. We were near the entrance, where the light from the corridor met the dimness of the auditorium.

Rarity squeezed Applejack's hand, and I could see the anxiety on her face.

- What if something goes wrong? - Rarity asks for the thousandth time, looking at the stage with concern.

- With our luck - Rainbow smiles - the stage could fall on us.

She laughs, but Applejack's stern gaze makes her take a step back, still smiling - What? You know I'm right.

Applejack sighs and, shaking her head, she turns to Rarity, holding her face tenderly.

- It's going to be all right, sweetie.

Rarity smiles, but the anxiety is still visible in her eyes.

- You and Rainbow are going to rock today. No obstacles - Twilight says smiling next to me - Positive thoughts!

Pinkie, you startled me by pulling me into a tight hug.

- Don't worry, Fluttershy and I will keep an eye on everything. Nothing will get in your way!

I confirm with a suffocating smile.

Suddenly, principal Celestia's firm voice echoes through the auditorium over the loudspeakers, asking the participating students to walk to the dressing room and the rest to settle down inside the auditorium.

Rarity takes a deep breath and turns to Applejack, smiling. Without saying a word, she leans in, giving her a soft kiss.

- See you later, - she whispers.

- Good luck, sweetie.

Rainbow looks at her friends as if she's going to throw up.

- Let's get on with it - she grabs Rarity's arm, leading them towards the dressing room.

🌸

As we look for our seats in the first few rows, I spot Trixie heading towards the stage maintenance room. I raise an eyebrow, there's no reason for her to go there.

I tug on the sleeve of Pinkie's blouse next to me and give a discreet nod.

Pinkie follows my gaze. A smile forms on her face.

- Fluttershy! You've spotted a problem! Let's go!

Before Applejack and Twilight could ask what was going on, Pinkie pulled me by the arm again. As we get closer, we hide behind a pile of boxes and watch Trixie fiddling with the stage controls.

My eyes widen and I whisper, not wanting to attract attention.

- It looks like the stage is really going to fall on them...

I see Pinkie take out her cell phone and take a picture of Trixie. The flash scares her, causing her to stand up quickly and stare at us. I swallow.

- Wha-what are you pests doing here? - Trixie asks with a slight stutter that soon turns into irritation.

- We asked the same thing - I can't believe I'm the one who answered her - Only the staff are allowed in here.

Pinkie tilts her head to examine what Trixie was fiddling with.

- Hm... Those are the wires for the lights and speakers, silly! You can't touch them.

- She wanted to sabotage the other contestants, probably just like the previous ones... - I step back. I look at Pinkie and say, in a whisper: - We'd better tell the principal.