Chapter 7: Fireworks
"Wake up already!" Spike yelled. Josh jumped up on the bed and took a fighting stance.
"I been trying to wake you up for ten minutes!" Spike said, obviously irritated.
"Sorry. I was having a good dream." He apologized.
"What was it about?"
"Well, it was about..." He stopped himself before he said Rainbow Dash. In his dream, he was a pony. He and Dash had been at some sort of ball and were having the time of their lives.
"Nevermind" He said. Twilight poked her head through the doorway. Josh had been staying at the library while he was finding a place to live.
"Hey, you're awake!" She said cheerfully. "We need your help to get ready for the festival." He just looked at her.
"Oh, right. The Festival is called The Day of the Sun, and that night is called The night of the Moon. They celebrate the rule of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." She explained.
"Ok, got it. When is it?" Josh asked.
"In three days." Spike said.
"Yes, and everypony comes up with ideas for the day festival." Twilight said.
"Well, what about the night festival?" Josh questioned.
"Actually... it's to dark for any kind of play or anything, so people just go to the fair." She said, slightly saddened. Josh thought for a moment. Then he leaned towards Twilight and whispered something in her ear.
"I have no idea what that is." She admitted.
"Perfect." Josh smiled.
/
"That should be the last of it." The delivery pony said.
"Thank you." Josh said, passing the pegasus a generous tip. The pony then flew off with several of his friends.
"What are all these boxes for?" Spike asked as he walked out of the library.
"My idea for the Night of the Moon." Josh said simply. "And I'm going to need your help."
"But I was going to go to Rarity's boutique." He complained.
"Don't worry. If this doesn't impress her, nothing will." Josh laughed.
"Who says I want to impress her?" Spike asked nevously.
"Your face when you say her name." Josh laughed harder.
/
"Hey Twilight. Have you seen Josh?" Dash asked when she spotted her friend.
"Yeah. He's back at the library with Spike." She answered.
"Alright. I'll go over there." Dash said. Before she could zoom off, Twilight grabbed her tail.
"Hold on there. He and Spike are working on something for the night festival, and they want it to be a suprise. Why do you want to see him anyways?" Twilight asked suspiciously.
"I was... um... going to play a prank on him." She said. She was relieved when Twilight accepted her answer.
"Well, come on. We're meeting at Rarity's boutique, remember?" She said.
"Oh, right." Dash said, slightly disapointed.
/
"And further more, something has to be done about the quality of the snacks at the concession stand." Pinkie stated. Everypony groaned. Rarity stepped up.
"Now, on to more pressing matters, we need to find somepony for Josh. Whenever someone brings up his family, he goes deep into thought, which is not a good thing." She said.
"Who says that somepony doesn't already like him?" Dash objected.
"Would that someone be you, Dash?" Rarity joked. Everypony looked at Dash, waiting for her to object. Their jaws dropped when she didn't.
"Well... kinda. But could you not tell him that?" She admitted softly.
"Oh my Celestia! I need to get to work on a dress for you!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Rarity-"
"What kind of suit would be best for him?"
"Rarity!"
"And I need to find out his favorite color."
"RARITY! I haven't told him that I like him yet!" Dash yelled. Everypony looked at her. Suprisingly, it was Fluttershy who spoke up.
"Don't worry. We won't tell him. That's your job." She said.
"Thanks, Shy." Dash smiled.
"When do you plan on telling him?" Applejack asked.
"Well... I was going to ask him to the Great Gallopping Gala." Dash sighed.
"That sounds like a great idea." Twilight said.
"Yeah! And when you two get married I'll make the biggest cake ever!" Pinkie Pie yelled.
"Now hold on there, sugarcube. Let's take this one step at a time." Applejack said.
"Now, about that dress..." Dash turned to Rarity.
/
*Three days later.*
"And it's... done!" Josh said as he tied the last fuse. He and Spike hi-fived at their work.
"If this works like you said it would, it would be worth missing the day festival." Spike said. It was already dark, and ponies were already filling up the newly built bleachers, compliments of Princess Luna.
"It looks like it's time." Spike sighed.
"The culmination of our work is at hand." Josh said, making him and Spike laugh. When they calmed down, Josh stepped onto the podium.
"Welcome, citizens of Ponyville. And welcome, Princesses." He said, bowing slightly. The girls and the Princesses were in the front row. Josh undid his wristcom and set it on the podium.
"Leonidas, play song #58, on my mark."
"Aye, sir" He complied.
"Spike, will you do the honors?"
"Glady." Spike replied. He turned to the massive bundle of fuses. He took a deep breath, then blew out, lighting them all on fire.
"Mark." Josh said. The song "Fireworks" started to play at a volume that everypony could hear. As it started, sparklers started to go off. Ponies ooed and ahhed.
Then, as the first full part of the song began, fireworks began to shoot up, perfectly timed with the song. Even the Princesses gasped in amazement.
You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July
Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own
You don't have to feel like a waste of space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow And when it's time, you'll know
You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July
Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe"
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through
Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
This beautiful display went on for several minutes before ceasing. Ponies began to murmur in confusion. Then, two large fireworks shot into the sky at opposite angles. When they went off, they left two messages in the sky. One, which looked like it was made of pure sunlight, spelt out 'Long rule Princess Celestia'. The other, which looked to be spelled in stars, read 'Long rule Princess Luna'.
When these faded from view, everypony started to cheer. The girls met Josh and Spike as they stepped off the stage.
"That was awesome!" Dash said excitedly.
"It was quite marvelous." Rarity said as she leaned over and kissed Spike on the cheek. He then flashed Josh a look that clearly said 'Thank you'.
"It was all like boom, crash, pow!" Pinkie Pie yelled.
"Yes, it was amazing." Princess Luna said. Everypony bowed to her.
"Thank you Captain. This night has made me feel better than I ever have. How did you come up with this?" She asked.
"I had my A.I. bring up schematics for the fireworks. After that, all it took was the right supplies, a lot of hard work, and a lot of trial and error." He said. Everypony began to laugh as they got his point.
"So that's why the library has been smelling like smoke." Twilight said.
"Sorry. Spike kept sneezing on the powder bin." Josh answered.
"I have a very delicate nose." Spike defended himself. That only served to make the group laugh harder.