Chapter 13: Tomorrow?!
"I can't believe how well last night went, brother," Flim said.
"I know, brother," Flam responded. "If this keeps up we'll be rich in a matter of months." They were heading towards the auditorium.
"I know. I can't believe Celestia just sold this to us so cheaply?" Flim added. Luna walked up to them. "Ah, Lulu, how are you?"
"DON'T call me Lulu," Luna told him in a threatening tone. "Anyway, we need to get ready to preform Il Muto."
"Oh right, the one you all do annually around this time," Flam responded. "The cast is the same as last year correct?"
"Actually I have a letter about that from the Opera Ghost," Luna said. She levitated a letter towards them and Flam took it from her and opened it.
"Congratulations on last night," Flam read. "I'm impressed by Miss Fluttershy's performance and I wish to see her career progress. So instead of Rarity playing the Countess, you must have Fluttershy play her. Rarity will play the pageboy. And all I ask is that you continue to leave box 5 open for my personal uses. Sincerely yours, Opera Ghost."
"Who died and made him in charge?!" Flim exclaimed. "This is MY-OUR opera house. What makes him think that he can boss us around?"
"With all due respect, he usually is right about these things," Luna responded.
"Oh sure! Take the freaks' side!" Flam exclaimed sarcastically. Strong Wood ran up to them.
"Um, sirs, do you know where Fluttershy is?" Strong Wood asked.
"She should be in the auditorium," Luna answered.
"Thank you," Strong Wood responded. He left and headed for there.
"Fluttershy!" Strong Wood called. She turned from her friends to face him. "Can I ask you something?" She nodded.
"Of course excuse me," Fluttershy said. She walked over to him and they went over to a secluded place. "What is it?" Neither of them knew that Discord was watching. He decided to go to these rehearsals for the annual thing mainly becomes he was bored and wanted to do some pranks.
"I was wondering if you would like to go out on a date with me," Strong Wood said nervously. "You know to a nice restaurant or something like that."
Discord almost growled. How DARE he ask that?! What made this jerk think that he deserved HER?! He was about ready to fry him when Fluttershy responded.
"Thank for the offer but..." Fluttershy began.
"But what?" Strong Wood responded.
"But I love some pony else," Fluttershy said. Discord calmed down at that but not entirely.
'Well at least it's some pony I know then,' Discord thought. 'At long as it's not Blueblood. Which is extremely unlikely since he's mean to her.'
"Oh, I see," Strong Wood replied. "Who is it?"
"Gus Tenor," Fluttershy said. Discord's jaw dropped. He then shook his head to try to clear the cobwebs in his brain.
'No way...you must have imagined it,' he thought. 'Right?'
"Isn't he your old singing tutor?" Strong Wood questioned.
"Yes but he's only a few years older than me," Fluttershy told him. "It's not what you think. Anyway, I still hope that we can be friends."
"Oh, yes of course," Strong Wood responded. "So would you still like to meet up some time?" Fluttershy nodded.
"I would like that as long as it's private," Fluttershy said. Strong Wood nodded.
"Of course my dear," Strong Wood replied. Discord almost growled and Fluttershy shivered. "My dear" sounded weird coming from Strong Wood and not Discord. "Goodbye."
"Bye," Fluttershy said. He left and headed for the exit. Discord watched him as he left and followed him stealthily. He seemed angry and hurt. Discord's replica of himself appeared.
"Good riddance," the replica said.
"I've got a bad feeling that this isn't the last we'll see of him," the original replied.
"So what did Strong Wood want?" Rarity asked Fluttershy when she came back in.
"Oh, he was wondering if I would go on a date with him," Fluttershy informed her.
"Oh that's wonderful!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Yeah when is it?" Pinkie said.
"Um, I said no," Fluttershy told them. Their jaws dropped.
"What? Why?" Rarity asked.
"Well, remember Gus Tenor?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes I...oh!" Pinkie realized. "I see. Have you told him yet?" Fluttershy shook her head.
"Wait, you love him?" Rarity questioned. Fluttershy nodded. "How did that happen? And when?"
"Well I honestly don't know," Fluttershy said. "It sort of came softly and slowly. And he's really nice and funny."
"Yeah, he's great! He helped me prank Blueblood when he was trying to court Fluttershy," Pinkie told them. "He also makes the best chocolate shakes and performs the best magic tricks."
"He sounds interesting. Does he come around here often?" Rarity asked.
"Not really, from what Miss Celestia told us he's moved so now he only visits in the summer," Pinkie said.
"Alright! Everypony gather around!" Flim called. They formed a circle around the brothers.
"As you all know, every year around this time it is tradition for you to perform Il Muto," Flam said.
"And we will be continuing this tradition," Flim said.
"Except...," Flam started.
"We're doing it tomorrow," Flim finished. Everypony's jaw dropped.
"What!?" several of them exclaimed.
"I know it seems rushed," Flam said.
"But since you do this every year," Flim added. "We thought it would be best..."
"If we do it tonight so that we'll have more time to work on the next opera," Flam finished.
"Any questions?" Flim asked. Rarity raised her hoof. "Yes?"
"Are you INSANE?!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Oh boy, here comes the rant," Rainbow muttered to Applejack. Rainbow was dusting the corners while Applejack was sweeping up the auditorium.
"Well this should be interesting," Applejack responded. They stopped working so they could watch Rarity's break down. She was panting crazily.
"Do. You. Have. ANY idea of how hard it is to cram and prepare for something so last minute?" Rarity began. They shook their heads. "And do you even have a clue of how difficult it is to remember something you did last year?" They shook their heads nervously. "So WHY would you do this to US? I don't remember any of the blocking AND we haven't even cleaned the costumes."
"Oh boy, here comes the finale," Applejack muttered.
"So HOW can you expect and demand so much!? Have you ever SEEN this opera!?" Rarity exclaimed.
"Should I have warned them about this?" Discord questioned. He was watching the whole thing from above. His replica then appeared beside him. He looked at himself. "Naaaaa. They should've seen this coming. Their fault."
"Though it does make for good entertainment," the replica said. "Popcorn?" The replica had made a bag appear and was munching on some.
"Thank you," the original responded. He took a clawful and began eating it. "Glad we exchanged Rarity for Chrissy?" The replica nodded.
"Yeah, she's WAY more funny than Chrissy was," the replica answered.
"I can't believe that even after that lecture they got earlier today they're STILL performing it tomorrow," Rainbow exclaimed as she finished washing the dresses. Applejack was washing the other smaller articles of clothing such as shoes and hats.
"Well that's Flim and Flam for ya," Applejack responded. "They don't care about anythin' but money and 'll do whatever it takes to get it."
"I'm surprised they haven't revolted yet," Rainbow Dash said.
"Well most of them, while they agree with Rarity, can't really act on it unless they want to get fired," Applejack replied. "And the others don't want to make a big deal out of it."
"Makes sense," Rainbow Dash admitted. "Though I wish that they could get what's coming to them. You can't perform something last minute that you've barely rehearsed! It makes for a bad play and it's hard enough listening to it without it being rushed."
"Agreed Rainbow," Applejack said. "Agreed."
"What were you two THINKING?!" Luna exclaimed as she burst into their office. "You can't performing something like this so soon!"
"So we've heard," Flam said.
"But don't worry to much about it, Lulu," Flim added.
"We know what we're doing," Flam finished.
"First of all Flim, DON'T call me Lulu," Luna told him. "And secondly, a rushed opera will..."
"Make for a bad opera," Flim interrupted. "We know."
"Bbbuuuuttttt," Flam started. "Not enough performances are bad for business."
"Even YOU should know that," Flim said. "Besides, what's the w..."
"DON'T finish that statement," Luna stated. "Everypony says it. And whenever they do. The worse ALWAYS happens." Luna started walking out. "We're already stressed out enough as it. We don't need to jinx it."