(Moth) A Moth's Song - 5

>Actias's squeaks die down as she finishes her sing-squeaking.
>She decided to quit tapping on the light-bulbs, in order to get more practice with her voice.
>It was a good decision, considering she didn't have enough light-bulbs of varying shapes and sizes to deliver certain notes.
>They distracted her, too.
>"How was that?"
>It was an improvement, especially compared to when she first started out.
"It wasn't bad. You started measure fifty too soon, and to compensate you tried to speed up, which caused you to pass me."
>"But I realized what happened and slowed down.
"And it sounded sloppy."
>The moth-pony blushes and combs her feelers over her eyes as she hides behind her hooves.
>"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's try again."
>You reset your metronome and start to play, Actias's squeaks coming in at just the right time.
>She squeaks almost perfectly in time once her part comes in.
>Her eyes close as she puts her all into the piece.
>During one of your quieter parts, you stop playing and lean back to listen to her.
>She continues, despite you, and stays on beat for the last half of the song.
>A smirk draws over her lips as she finishes.
>"You stopped."
"I wanted to listen to you."
>"You wanted to judge me."
"I wanted to see if you could keep with the metronome instead of the music. Your fellow musicians might speed up or slow down by mistake. You need to keep by the conductor."
>"And I did."
"Yeah. You did a good job."
>"Do you think we will get in?"
"Does that matter anymore? We're having fun, right?"
>"I want to actually win this, August."
"I don't think it's a competition."
>"Everything is a competition."
>Something about that kind of makes sense.
>You shrug and ruffle her mane.
"Yeah, well. I think you lose if you aren't having fun, even if you're the best."
>Actias harumphs and points her nose up at you.
>"Maybe we have differing definitions of fun? Regardless, let us continue."

"Nope. Break time."
>"What? We have only just started!"
"We'll do fine. As long as you do what you just did, nothing's going to go wrong."
>She shakes her head nervously as she climbs into your arms.
>"But we only have two more hours until the audition. I need more practice!"
"You'll burn yourself out. Come on, we need to get something to eat anyway."
>"Fine. But when we get back, we are going to practice."
"Really? Two days ago you were sick of practicing."
>"I like spending time with you."
>You pick Actias up and tuck her under your arm as you stand from the piano.
"We can spend time together doing other things."
>"Like what?"
"Like take a break from practicing."
>"Wow, that is really specific, August!"
"We could go listen to some other music."
>"We might as well practice, in that case."
>Actias taps her hoof against your forehead as you carry her out of the piano room.
"Well, what do you normally do for fun?"
>"Stare at lights."
"Seriously?"
>"Well, since I stopped traveling with the caravans, there has not been a lot to do."
"What about your friends?"
>"Oh, they were only in town for the night."
"What about you? Where have you been staying?"
>"Here."
"I mean before you came here."
>"Oh! Well, I was only in town for about three days before I met you. I slept under a bush in the park."
>The couch creaks as you sit down on it and prop your feet on the coffee table.
>Actias snuggles into your chest.
>"I used to just wander around town and enjoy the lights. No one seemed to mind."
"And then you found me."
>"Yup!"
"I'm glad you did."
>"I am too."
>She yawns and wriggles against you.
"That's a good idea. A nap before the auditions might not be a bad idea."
>You set the alarm on your wrist watch and wrap your arms around the moth pony.
"We'll be up in an hour, and we can run through the song a few times, alright?"
>"Alright."
>Actias presses her nose to your cheek as the two of you nod off.

>A soft beeping sounds near your antennae.
>August groans and starts to roll over before you nuzzle his cheek.
"Is that the alarm?"
>He replies with the most groggy, tired sigh you've ever heard.
"Then get up, we need to go."
>"Five more minutes."
>You stand up on top of him and stamp your hooves against his chest.
"No! Now!"
>A sudden sense of weightlessness overtakes you as August picks you up.
>"Do not do that."
>He sits up and puts you down in his lap before rubbing his eyes.
>"Wait here and let me go get changed, okay?"
"Okay."
>You hop out of his lap and curl up on the couch.
"I'll be here."
>He smiles and pats your side before walking to his room.
>You yawn and close your eyes for a brief minute.
>A hand presses into you and starts shaking you.
>"Hey, wake up."
"Hmm?"
>You blink the sleep from your eyes and stare up at August.
>"You fell asleep."
>His blurred form becomes more focused as you blink a little bit more.
>He stands in front of you, smiling, wearing a very sharp looking suit.
>You blush a little bit as you admire him.
"That looks... delicious."
>"Very funny. Come on, we have to go."
"What about me? I need something to wear."
>"If you keep your wings folded down, it looks like a dress. Just roll with that."
>You look down at your wings.
>In the past ten years of having your wings, you never noticed that they looked like that.
"I guess that can work."
>"Then are we ready?"
"I think so, yes."
>"Let's go, then."
"Wait! Don't we need to practice a little bit more?"
>August shakes his head and smiles.
>"I think we'll do wonderfully. Just remember, don't stress yourself out and have fun."
>With a nod, you hop off of the couch and trot to the door.
"We will be the best there is, right?"
>"Right."

>The very real possibility that you may not be the best there is becomes very apparent.
>Many of the other ponies who have auditioned are absolutely fantastic.
>Almost as if they've been training for this all their lives.
"August, I am scared."
>"Don't worry, it's all for fun, right?"
"I-I guess."
>You continue watching as a trio of cellists finish their rendition of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1.
>There is absolutely no way you and August will hold a candle to that.
>Unless you can sing-squeak as perfectly as you did this morning.
>You swallow hard and press against August.
>His calming touch eases your nerves as he strokes your shoulder.
>"We're on."
>August walks out on stage and takes his seat at the piano that sits in the center.
>You trot out after him and approach one of the microphones set up near the front-center.
>"Introduce yourselves and state your instruments and the name of the piece you will be performing."
"I-I am Actias. I will be singing, and we will be performing Vivaldi's Gloria."
>"Vivaldi? Never heard of him. Is that the... thing sitting at the piano?"
>"No, I'm August."
>"Well, we usually only accept well-known pieces, but I'm curious. Please, entertain us."
>August clears his throat and starts playing as your heart begins racing.
>You subtly start to tap a hoof to keep the beat, and as soon as your part comes in, you begin to sing.
>The judges hardly react, despite you and August putting your very hearts and souls into the piece.
>You're trying your best, but it doesn't seem to be good enough.
>As your part finishes, you put every bit of yourself into the last few words, and sheepishly look to the floor.
>August finishes the rest of the piece strongly, stands, and bows.
>The two of you are met with no applause, no comment, and hardly a look from the judges.
>The audience sits silent with a look of surprise.
>Was your performance really that awful?
>The judges speak amongst themselves for a moment.
>"The two of you read the flyer, yes?"
"Y-yes."
>August nods.
>"You do know these are amateur try outs, right?"
>"Huh?"
>You tilt your head, tears starting to form in your eyes.
>"The two of you are clearly on a level much higher than the rest of the ponies auditioning tonight."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
>"I mean to say that, with such talent as yours, we would welcome you into the musician's guild, despite your apparent lack of self-recognition."
>"Told you we'd be the best, Actias."
>No words can come to your mind.
>You stand on the stage in absolute shock.
>"Mister August? Is she alright?"
>"She'll be fine. Just a little surprised is all."
>All you can command your body to do is leap on August and start hugging him as tight as you can.
"I can not believe we did it. Thank you."