Episode 12

No Room; Part 3

"Yeah yeah, what up? Who's ready to party full-moon style?"

The crowd hypes up, and Feather can hear the excitement from backstage.

"Alright Lunachicks, we're on directly after intermission. If you're going to leave, stay close by, and no breaking the fourth wall." Feather explains. "Try not to get chained to any props either."

"Eh-heheh…" Melody chuckles.

"Don't get dragged away by obnoxious Kandi's, too." She warns.

"Hey, I'll try my best!" Electra laughs.

"Feather!"

She turns around.

"Techi, shouldn't you be up in the booth?" Feather asks.

"Yeah." She replies. "I just wanted to come wish you guys good luck, so…" She gives Feather a hug. "Good luck."

"Thank you, Techi."

"And, if there were anything else you needed from me…" She adds.

"Thank you, Techi." Feather repeats. "We'll manage."

"You got a kid with a flashlight as your lighting crew." Techi reminds her. "And I did some research; since your dancers never technically preformed with Thiala before you pulled them, they aren't in violation. I never really helped Thiala in her performance, so…?"

Feather looks at her.

"Techi, I already hired a new lighting guy." Feather explains. "But… I guess if he happened to, I don't know, accidentally get chained to one of the props?" Feather looks in Melody's direction, closing one eye.

"Hm? Oh! Uh, be right back."

Techi smiles.

"Only because he won't be able to perform his duties." Feather reminds. "After all, the first rule of theatre; the show must go on."

"Y-yeah." Techi nods.

"Speaking of which, don't you have some lights to be running?" Electra asks.

"Aw, I pre-programmed them last night. They practically run themselves." Techi explains. "I better get on up there though. Good luck, Lunachicks!"

"Can't do it without you, Techi." Feather replies.

"The kid's all tied up." Melody says, re-entering the room.

"You know you didn't literally have to chain him to something, Melody." Feather explains. "You could have just as easily told him to scram."

"You were never intending to use him to begin with, were you Blanko?"

Feather shrugs. "Who says I need a lighting director at all?"

"Oh come on Feather- Techi's your girl and you know it!" Electra laughs.

Feather blushes. "Now now…"

"Kid with flashlight really can't compare to the best lighting director in all of Equestria, after all." Melody giggles. "You're words, not mine."

"Hey, now…" She says, blushing even deeper. "You really think I'd just turn my back on her? I'm not Thiala, remember?"

They laugh.

"Speaking of which, where is she?"

Melody shrugs. "I was kinda wondering too, but I didn't see her backstage when I went to chain up the lighting kid."

"Whoa, you think she bailed?" Electra asks.

"Not sure, but I think somepony should go find her. All in all, I did sorta take her dancers from her." Feather suggests.

"Oh yeah- I wanted to ask you about that. What was that you said the other day… about her only caring about messing up my performance?" Melody questions.

"Quite back stage!" The stage manager calls, and the performers switch to a whisper.

"She was actually quite happy with performing by herself until she found out her dancers had been moved to back you up." Feather explains.

"Is that so…?" Melody says, looking down. "Maybe this all could have been avoided had I not said anything to begin with."

"Hey. Thiala's temper is her problem, by no means should you take responsibility for it."

"I may have ignited the flames a little." Melody admits.

"It all worked out in the end, though, right?" Electra clarifies. "Who cares what Thiala's doing, let's focus on our song."

"I think I'm going to go find her. Like I was saying… I did take her dancers." Feather says.

"I technically took them." Melody reminds. "I was the one who asked for their help."

"You wanna go look for her then?" Feather offers.

"I'll pass."

Feather smirks. "You didn't know they already belonged to a group, so don't worry about it. I'll go look for her, see if I can't somehow make it up to her."

"Some times I think Blanko's too nice." Electa comments.

"Why do you keep calling her that anyway?" Melody asks. "Is that part of the whole chika-Techi thing too?"

"Don't you know? Feather doesn't have her cutie mark."

Melody's eyes widen. "She's like, thirteen though!"

"Fifteen." Electra corrects. "And, yeah. She just… never got it. I call her Blanko. I can't believe you never noticed! Don't you live with her?"

"Well, yeah, but I guess I just figured it was black like the rest of her." Melody reasons.

"Nope. Feather's completely cutie-mark-less."

"Gosh…"

"Don't performers have to remain backstage?" Thiala asks, as Feather approaches her.

"I could say the same about you, considering you're just so adamant on following the rules." Feather notes. "And here I thought you were supposed to go on in the first half."

Thiala sits back, and crosses her arms. "Nope."

Feather sits next to her. "I doubt they placed a solo act with no lighting designer after intermission." She scoffs.

"They didn't."

"So why aren't you performing, then?" Feather asks.

"No room."

She pauses.

"You overbooked, Feather. You signed up for one spot, and that's what you got. And since you're listed as my manager, whether you officially are or not… I have no choice but to abide by those rules."

"I… I can't believe I forgot to sign up for a second space." Feather stammers. "I guess I got so caught up in preparing with the Lunachicks…"

"You forgot about me?" Thiala finishes.

"I didn't forget about you. I let you and Techi manage yourselves. The three of us are a team, remember?"

"Were." She sighs. "I thought you kicked Techi out?"

"I would never just turn my back on her." She says. "Or you. I'm not just going to let you skip out on this festival, Thiala."

"I think it's a little late for that."

"Not necessarily. I have no dancers for my song- and you already have a piece ready! My group knows the tune to the song you were dancing too, and I could always-"

"Feather." Thiala stops her. "It's alright, okay? I lost. You do your performance thing, you can owe me later."

"I'm really sorry."

"Me too…" Thiala sighs. "I suppose we both got sidetracked with the new girl, hm?"

"I suppose." Feather nods.

"Now get on back stage, before they void your performance all together." Thiala warns.

Feather smiles, and takes off just in time for Melody to walk up.

"I looked over the list too. You know it's signed up under your name, right?" She tells her. "You could have totally claimed our spot and wiped out are performance all together."

"What? You can't be serious- really? Well, god damn it, do I wish I would have known that!" Thiala exclaims, acting upset. "Believe me, Melody, I would have clobbered your little performance had I known it would be that easy!"

Melody narrows her eyes. "Uh huh. Well, just wanted to make sure you were aware." She says and walks away.

Thiala keeps a harsh glare locked to her until Melody leaves.

Then drops it.

"Hmmm... I didn't, though. I read contracts and told everypony about my rehearsal space and hurt Feather and eventually gave up my own performance just to hinder you." She says, moping away from the stage. "I worked so hard to cause you such grief. I'm a mess."

A/N:

Hello, everypony! Sorry, I haven't quite felt like myself the past couple days. I promise from now on; no more depressing author notes. All I ask in return is for some awesome reviews from you guys. Do we have a deal? Next week I'll be paying back the favor I owe to my fellow Clanadian pony Thiala, so keep reading!

-Feather