Episode 10
No room
"Well?" Thiala prompts, flipping her hair. "Am I fabulous, or what?"
"For the tenth time, yes." Techi sighs. "It's great."
Thiala glares at her. "You hardly sound enthusiastic."
"If I do, can we go home?"
"Sure."
Techi takes a deep breath. "Woo! Yeah! Go Thiala go! That was GREAT! That was FANTASTIC! That was-"
"Enough!" Thiala interrupts. "Really- why must you be so sarcastic?"
"Maybe it's because you scheduled me for three tech rehearsals in one day." Techi groans. "Really Thiala, it's just fine. Why do you have to practice so much?"
"The performance is this weekend, Techi. I know my performance is flawless, but your cues are still a little late. You best not screw me over."
"Excuse me?"
Just as Techi looks as though she's about to deck Thiala, Cupie leads Melody in.
"I can't believe I forgot to show you when you first got here… what was I thinking?" Cupie says to Melody. "This is our stage, available to everypony in the complex. It's set up as a 'theatre in the round' type."
"So a Black Box stage." Melody confirms.
"Is that the name of it?" Cupie ponders. "Well I suppose you theatrical type would know."
"Excuse me, but can you not see that this space is occupied?" Thiala snorts.
"Thiala really, you think you're the only one who needs to use this space? You know this room is in high demand with the full moon coming up." Cupie argues.
"And YOU know how important it is that I get my routine right." Thiala counters. "I'm doing a solo performance this time around, so none of those ditzy back up dancers will be getting in my way."
"You know the only reason they aren't dancing with you is because Feather's having them dance in my performance, right?" Melody checks.
"Aw, sweet! That's gonna look so-" Techi starts, but Thiala throws her a glare.
"I mean… er, how dare Feather support our competition. Heh heh…"
Melody gives her a confused look.
"They told me they weren't going dance because they all thought I should do a solo…" Thiala ponders aloud. "But now you tell me my own playwright stole them from under me for her shabby singer's performance?"
"Actually it's for the Lunachicks-" Cupie begins, but Thiala was too preoccupied in her own rage.
"The nerve of that girl taking away MY dancers! And shame on them for going without saying a thing."
"Thiala! Will you listen? Feather didn't take your dancers."
"I did." Melody interrupts.
Cupie and Thiala look at her in shock. Techi smirks, and bites her lip.
"I put out posters asking for dancers during my performance. A group came to me saying they wanted to switch out of yours, and I said yes." Melody explains boldly.
"How dare you give my dancers permission without consulting me first! This- this is an outrage!"
"They said they didn't want to dance with you- so why should they?" Melody bites back. "God forbid they join me and actually associate with an experienced performer."
"I take back what I said before, this really IS great!" Techi grins, and leans herself against the lighting.
"Shut your mouth, Techi!" Thiala snaps. "Take your stupid rehearsal space, me and Techi have to go talk to Feather about this… NOW."
"Oh come on! This is so much more entertaining then whatever the hell you were-"
Thiala shoots her a dark, malicious glare.
"I mean- coming." She corrects, and follows Thiala out as the beyond irritated earth-pony stampedes out the door, knocking into Melody as she does.
"Melody… Really," Cupie sighs. "I know Thiala isn't the nicest of ponies, but… I must say, that was… harsh."
"I was blunt." Melody corrects. "Thiala's going to have to learn sooner or later that Equestria doesn't revolve around her. And that I'm sick of putting up with her crap."
Cupie blinks.
"Would you mind letting Feather know that I'm ready to start the song? I believe she's up in her room with the rest of the Lunachicks."
"I can try." Cupie nods. "But I think she may be preoccupied with a very angry Thiala at the moment."
Thiala and Techi enter Feather room moments later.
"No."
"No? NO? What the fuck do you mean 'no'?" Thiala growls. "Those are the dancers that you found me when we started working together. Now you think you can just borrow them for Melody's song?"
"My song." Feather corrects. "And my dancers, like you stated. I'm sort of their manager. Am. Actually."
"So?"
"So if I pull them for a performance, then, I pull them." She says.
"Well now you're going to put them back."
Feather narrows her eyes. "What's with you Thiala? I thought you were happy about doing a solo performance?"
"Not until I learned Melody had personally stolen the crew." Thiala explains.
"So you don't really care if they're dancing with you then, you just don't want them dancing with Melody?" Feather clarifies.
"Exactly!" Thiala states.
At first Feather's silent. A big grin overtakes her, and she starts laughing hysterically.
"I want to know what the hell it is you are laughing about!" Thiala demands, keeping a stern looked locked on the overly-amused pony.
"I bet you would, wouldn't you?" Feather giggles. "But you have no clue! You have no clue, Thiala!"
Thiala turns red with rage. "FINE! If you aren't going to help me, then I'll take care of this myself! Come on Techi."
"But didn't you just say you were going to-" Techi stammers.
"You're coming." Thiala demands, and Techi doesn't resist.
In the rehearsal space, Lunachick Fringe meets up with Melody and the dancers. Feather makes her way down there too, to supervise and direct.
"Heya blanko." The guitarist, Electra, greets.
Feather's startled. "There you are." She sighs in relief. "I thought Kandi pulled another scavenger hunt and went looking for my long lost love again."
Electra smirks. "Something tells me she should try looking for ponies who are actually guys, then."
Feather shrugs. "Something tells me she should stop looking all together."
"Wouldn't that be a great thing for everypony?" Electra notes.
"Feather!" One of the dancers calls, running over to where she was seated. "Feather, I just wanted to say thank you SO much for letting us perform with Melody!"
Feather nods. "It'll be a good thing for your career."
"Oh absolutely! I can hardly believe she asked us. I mean- us!" She says, bouncing around. "Thiala wasn't too mad, was she?"
"Oh don't you worry about her, she's-"
"He-em!"
The ponies on stage stop and look to the entrance, where Thiala was standing with an angry look, and Techi lugging behind her.
"Listen up everypony, this space is limited for use." Thiala announces. "You aren't the only ones who need to practice, after all, so move it!"
"Thiala, really." Feather says, approaching her at the door. "You were here practically all day. What makes you think we're going to give this up after only being in here for ten minutes?"
"Five minutes too long." Thiala smirks. "Because I took up so much time, you now must share the space equally with the other patrons who wish to perform here."
"What other-"
Thiala opens the door to revile several ponies lined up, all waiting to use the room.
"No way." Feather stammers. "There's no way everypony here lives in the complex."
"Tell her, Techi."
Techi rolls her eyes. "It states in the contract that this area, being Clantopia's only theatre-in-the-round space, must be available to the public from 1 to 11 PM."
"And; anypony who does not share the space equally is in violation, and will be penalized accordingly." Thiala adds. "Techi and I were up early this morning practicing, when it was just open to residence."
"Doesn't it say something about having to share with us then?" Feather checks.
"Techi." Thiala prompts.
Techi sighs. "The contract states that if the space is not in demand, anypony can use it for extended periods."
"Because you hadn't asked, we aren't in violation here."
"Techi, what's going on? Why are you helping her?" Feather asks, looking to her now.
"Because unlike YOU, who quickly swapped over when she found a new performer, Techi's actually loyal." Thiala explains.
Feathers sights were locked on Techi, though.
"…S-sorry Feather. It's just… You me and Thiala were kinda a group before Melody showed up. I don't agree with the way she's going about solving this, but… I do think it has to be solved some how."
"Implying there's a problem." Feather marks.
Techi looks down. "Y-yes. You re-assigning Thiala's dancers without saying anything to us. That's the problem."
"Now if you don't mind, Feather, there's a few citizens here who would like to use the space." Thiala notes.
"You advertised on purpose so we couldn't perform." Feather says, taking one last shot.
"Sounds familiar, doesn't it?" Thiala states, glancing in Melody's direction.
Feather stands her ground. She continues to stare harshly at Techi, unable to believe she's supporting Thiala over her. "Pack up guys. Let's find somewhere else to practice." She announces, still keeping a stern, disappointed look on Techi.
She leaves, and Techi drops her head in shame, squinting her eyes shut.
A/N:
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