Another nine o'clock on a saturday, same old crowd, same old drinks, and same old bartender...

"Just the way I like it." I thought to myself as I signaled the bartender to slide me my after show beer. It was a warm summer night which meant the bar was packed with its usual patrons, all looking to cool down with a nice cold beer. Which was great for my line of work; after all, what good is a showpony if there's nopony around to watch him put on a show?

"Hey Starbright, what do you think about that eh?"

I turned my head to my employer and the bartender of this pub, Mr. Watt Ales Ya. Watt found me when I was about twelve years old, he took me in and raised as his own and now that I'm old enough to work and to drink, I work here at the 'Gatecrasher' as its exclusive showpony.

"What do I think about what Watt?"

Watt rolled his eyes at me and sighed, "same old Starbright." he said as he push a pint of beer my way. I took a sip and turned to Watt, giving him my full attention. "I was just talking to Ray here about maybe getting you a real job." He said, jerking his head towards his biological son, Ray.

Ray was an only child before I came into the family but he welcomed me with open hoofs. He's the best older brother I ever could have asked for, and while he may be a bit blunt at times, his heart's always in the right place. I shifted my gaze to Ray and waved to him, I guess he must have come in while I was off in never never land...

Ray waved back and smiled that shit eating grin of his. He's a wizard who works at the castle in Canterlot under the very princess of the night herself, Princess Luna. It's a great job and pays nicely but it requires him to be away from home for weeks at a time, not that he ever complains...between you and me I think he has some sweetheart over in Canterlot because he HATES being away from home, usually.

"Anyway, I have a real job Watt, performing here at the Gatecrasher. Doesn't get any realer than that and hell, it don't pay that bad niether." I said as I took another sip of my beer. Watt nodded his agreement but all the same we turned to Ray, knowing he'd have something to say about that. Ray and I have been going through this old song and dance for a year now, he comes in saying I need a new job and I turn him down.

"Now Starbright I've been talking to the Princess and she says she can help you into an apprenticeship, help you become a wizard just like me." Ray extended his hoof and handed me a letter with Princess Luna's seal on it to show he wasn't joking or blowing smoke like all the other times.

Watt and I went wide eyed when we saw the letter, after all knowing Ray had gone to such great lengths just to help me get a 'real job' was a real testament to how much faith Ray had in me. After all, he wouldn't ask the Princess to do this for him, if he didn't think I could make something out of it. Ray handed me the letter and I looked it for a while...but in the end I handed it back to him.

"Ray, that's a real nice offer and all...but did you tell her that your adopted brother is an earth pony with amnesia? After all I can't just go an apply to be an apprentice without my real name or a horn and the ability to cast magic." I felt bad for turning Ray down, I've done it a lot of times before but...he didn't have a letter from the princess all those other times.

Ray pushed the letter back into my hooves and smiled, "Yes I told her you have amnesia, and I didn't forget to mention that you're an earth pony. Plus, you CAN cast magic, remember that fireworks cannon in the garage? Last I checked making constellations out of black powder counts as magic."

I held the letter in my hooves and sighed, everytime Ray made an offer like this it was getting harder and harder to say no. It felt like this time he wasn't going to take no for an answer. I looked for Watt for a little support for me staying but he just smiled.

"Come on Starbright! This is the chance of a lifetime, I know deep down you're not meant to be stuck here singing for the rest of your life." Ray scooted over to the seat next to me and wrapped his hoof over my shoulder. I wanted to say yes but...something was still bugging me about the whole thing.

"But I don't even have papers"

"I already talked it over with Luna, believe me Starbright I thought of everything! What do you say?"

"...What can I say?"

"Well yes would be a start."

"Watt!"

"By Celestia's beard he's right Starbright! You're meant for something more than just singing here at the bar. You owe it to yourself to give this a try."

I sat shrugged Ray's hoof off me and went back to nursing my beer. I didn't need to look at Ray or Watt to know that they both had the same shit-eating grin. Watt turned his attention back to his customers and serving them their drinks leaving Ray and myself to finish this matter without him. Ray had me in a corner with no way out...and I know what you're thinking! With this much support behind me I have no reason to pass this up, so I should just say yes!

...and if this was anything else, I would agree with you, Watt and Ray.

...but without my memories I have no idea what I could be getting myself into! I don't know my name, where I came from, or how the hell I can cast magic without a horn, or where that wierd fireworks cannon even came from! How do I know my magic isn't something dangerous? As far as I'm concerned questions like these...maybe they're better off unanswered.

I turned to Ray and in the moment our eyes met, his smile faded. He knew I was afraid of my magic, after all this isn't the first time he's brought up me working at the castle. He put his hoof on my shoulder and smiled, and for once it was a genuine smile, not his usual shit eating, cheeky grin.

"I talked to Luna about your fears regarding your memories."

"Y-you what?"

"What do you need?"

"Watt I meant what as in the question, I didn't mean you."

"Oh, my mistake."

"Anyway...awkward turtle moment, but ANYWAY...like I said I took care of everything."

"...where will I be staying?"

"The room across from the Princess of the Sun, from there it all depends on where the Apprenticeship takes you."

"...how much does it pay?"

"You get an allowance of 400 bits a week for your leisure."

"That's not bad."

"Not bad at all."

...fine, you win.

"...I'll try it for a bit but if it doesn't work out I'm coming right home. Do we have an understanding?"

Ray extended his hoof to me, "Shake on it." he said.

I wrapped my hoof around his and we did just that.

"Train comes this wenesday come three o'clock. Do you want a wake up call?" Ray's nice genuine smile morphed back into his usual shit-eating grin. He had to make one last jab against my sleeping habits, just for the hell of it.

"You can take your wake up call and shove it Ray."

"...So that's a yes?"

I smiled and punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"You know it is."