“You're awful,” a young dark colored bat-pony stated exasperatedly.

Espy Edge had seen quite a few tryouts today. Some of them were fine and others could have used some work, but this performance was the worst. Across from her was another bat-pony with her head stuck in a stump. This was odd because Espy Edge was sure the practice field was clear of all debris.

Pom Pom was having a bad time. The egg shell white colored filly was having issues getting her body out, head first unstuck from a stump. Her double pom cutie mark was still visible. She was here today to try out for the Hollow Shades cheer squad. Everything started out alright until near the end where she trip in mid performance and landed in her predicament. Fortunately she was unharmed.

Espy helped pull Pom Pom's head out, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah! I am! Uhm is that little crash going to count against me?” Pom asked in return as she pop out from the stump.

“Yes, and the rest of it was so bad that I can't in my right mind let you on to the squad.”

“But... but, I tried so hard!”

“I could see that. You have so much enthusiasm and this is great! We could use this.”

“Thank you!”

“The rest of it we can't. You're a cheering disaster.”

“Awe...”

“This is the third time you've tried out this month. This time you ended up in a tree stump that I'm not sure where it came from.”

“At least didn't hurt anyone else this time.”

“I am happy about that too, and at least you wasn't crashing through a wall like the first time. Moving on... if we ignore those disasters, your movements are too sloppy. Also I'm afraid to pair you up with someone else to see how well you could sync up.”

“Oh.”

“Look, I am not going to tell you to come back next weekend to try out again. You can, it's your final chance this year, and I can't stop you,” Espy sighed.

“You're right! I still have a chance in Tartarus to prove myself,” Pom Pom replied excitedly.

“For sure.”

Pom Pom trotted off the field and back into dark streets of Hollow Shades. On each side were a hodgepodge of tree houses. For almost the whole last month, the filly for was training to get a place on the cheer squad. Ever since she got her pom pom cutie mark the month before, she knew that it was her destiny to become the best cheerleader ever. Pom Pom just knew it!

Along the way back home she met a few fellow bat-ponies. One of them was trimming a tree.

“Nice tree trimming there Pokey!” Pom Pom exclaimed, complimenting him.

“I don't think so, Pom Pom,” Pokey replied, annoyed. “This is so boring! I would rather kick ponies in the teeth instead. That's fun to do.”

“No! No, don't think that! The job you’re doing looks wonderful and makes the whole place look nice!”

“Okay, whatever Pom Pom. I only have a little more to do,” Pokey replied, much less annoyed.

Pom Pom smiled, “Great! Keep up the good work.”

Around a bend in the street another was a colt throwing rocks up in the air and catching them.

“You're up to three now? Wow! That's great Snapshot," the filly exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah. Got to tell you this idea you gave me turned out pretty fun. I'm going to figure out this juggling thing better, and maybe I'll get my cutie mark for this?”

"You might!"

"See you around Pom Pom."

Walking down the street the filly spied some-pony that gave her the creeps. It was this older unicorn mare who worked at the Gold Zubric malted shop. In school she learned that unicorns used to rule over all ponykind and went to war with the bat-ponies long ago. Pom Pom's parents told her that unicorns were okay now and didn't do that anymore, but there were stories of this mare drinking blood of creatures which Pom Pom heard from the other children! Plus the beige color unicorn had a blood red mane and tail. This was more evidence of her dastardly deeds!

The unicorn gave a polite nod as she walked past the filly. Pom Pom just gave a weak smile back and hurried along.

A little ways further was the Gold Zubric and it's owner sweeping the street outside.

“Hello Mr. Heartburn! How are you doing today?"

"Hey there little Pom Pom! I am doing well on this fine day, today. How about you there?" the kind owner asked in return.

"I'm... doing pretty alright."

"How did the tryouts go? Better?"

"Well, no. I mean yes! Didn't hurt anyone else this time."

"That is good to hear. You keep at it, little one."

"I will! You're going to open back up in a couple of hours?"

"That I am. I hope to see you then," he chuckled.

Pom Pom nodded, "Will do Mr. Heartburn!"

The filly headed to her home in better spirits. She finished some quick chores and went to the backyard to practice. Pom Pom performed her routine to what she thought was good. She didn't crash into anything, her movements on the ground and the air were fine. The filly felt that she should be really ready to wow the other creatures. Pom Pom couldn't figure out why she kept on messing up at the tryouts.

Puttering around her home, Pom Pom thoughts turned to looking for help. Her parents were nice at encouraging her interests, but they couldn't give her many pointers. They noted that she never really screwed up much when she showed off to them, and suggested she should ask for her friend's help. The filly thought this was a great idea and set off to find them.

Pom Pom had a good many friends and she went to their houses one by one. Few of them were home and those who were, she asked for help. She showed off her routine, but kept on running into the same problem she had at the tryouts. Injuries and mayhem followed. Not to be deterred, the filly flew around looking for some help.

After a couple of hours, Pom Pom was tired out! She made her way to the Gold Zubric for a little milkshake break. The creepy unicorn mare was there and served her the treat. Pom Pom did her best not to shudder. After finishing her drink, the filly was full of energy and decided to go outside.

She went around out back to practice her routine a bit and was doing well until a voice said, “Not too bad.”

Pom Pom panicked and landed in a trashcan full of garbage. The voice asked, “Are you okay?”

Looking up from the mess, the filly saw the unicorn mare standing over her. Pom Pom screamed, “Oh sweet Luna don't hurt me! Don't suck the blood out of me!
Please! Please...”

“Calm down you spaz. Just asked if you were okay,” the mare replied.

“I'm sorry!”

“Sure you are. Colt you're a mess. Are you alright?”

Pom Pom just nodded.

“Gesz filly. Let me magic this garbage up,” she said as the unicorn magic did it's thing.

In less than 10 seconds Pom Pom was lifted out and the mess was mostly cleaned up. The filly was still covered in bits of waste.

“Thank you,” the filly meekly answered.

“No problem. Uhm... kinda feel a little bad about surprising you. Then again I didn't think you were going to crash into the trash.”

The filly just shrugged.

“Hey, as I said it wasn't too bad.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me help you a bit.”

“Don't want to be turned into a vamp-pony!”

“What are foals huffing these days? I'm not a bucking blood drinker. Well not in this time and place.”

“What?”

“What? You never mind. Wait here and give me a second,” the mare replied as she went back into the malted shop.

Pom Pom was curious about what was going to happen. She didn't quite understand what the mare meant by helping her. Truth to be told while the mare seemed a little gruff, the unicorn didn't seem mean. Pom Pom figured she wasn't going to get her blood stolen today. The filly felt a little silly because she just realized Mr. Heartburn wouldn’t hire her if she was dangerous.

“Unless she hypnotized him?” she mused out-loud.

“Been told that I have a way with my hips,” came a reply behind her.

“Epp!”

“Sorry, sorry you little spaz. Burnie just likes me and we are going to leave it at that. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Wait, I didn't get your name. Name?”

“Pom Pom! Nice to meet you! I'm so sorry about the trashcan and...”

“Whatever. I'm Rosewood and I’m not a vamp-pony and don't do cheap tricks! Just a normal unicorn, who is upstanding citizen of Hollow Shades who doesn't do anything shady or immoral whatsoever.”

“You don't suck blood?”

“Yeah, I don't suck blood or anything else for that matter. That's what I'm sticking with.”

“What?”

“You never mind. The hose isn't working here outside. Let's go to my home around the corner and I'll clean you off there.”

Pom Pom nodded as she followed Rosewood a little ways to what she thought was Mr. Heartburn's home. She figured to herself that the mare must be renting a room or something. If the unicorn was living with him, the filly guessed that the mare was trustworthy enough. She relaxed a little more as Rosewood used her magic to get the garden hose ready.

“Stand over there and I'm going to gently blast you with the water. Okay?”

“Okay!”

Rosewood slowly, boringly washed Pom Pom with a weak stream when the filly said, “It's okay! Turn it up more!”

“Sure,” the mare said as she turned the water pressure up to full blast. Rosewood noticed that Pom Pom took it like a champ and didn't complain.

The filly shook herself dry, “Well, thanks for cleaning me off Rosewood! I got to go and work on my routine.”

“I can help you,” the mare replied before the filly could scoot off.

'What? Really?”

“Yeah. Know I thing or two about moves. You're trying to get on the cheer squad, right?”

“How did you know that? Did you use your unicorn magic to read my mind?”

“No. You're loud and other ponies talk about the... effort you've been trying to put into this.”

“Oh.”

Rose put the hose away and continued, “Before my life went downhill and went sideways...”

“Oh...”

“... but after I found happiness here...”

“Oh!”

“... I was a professional dancer.”

“Oh?”

“High class, low class, no class corporate and other venues not fit for your eyes or ears, but still better than trying to sell cheap mass produced anti-wrinkle cream.”

“Wow! You'll really help me?”

“Oh course. It's going to cost you your blood, sweat and tears.”

“Are you going to use them to make a potion to make me cheer better?”

“What?”

“What?”

“No. No, it means you are going to work hard under my supervision.”

“Oh yeah!”

“Stay here, I'll get the phonograph for the beats, and then you'll show me your moves.”

So Pom Pom showed Rosewood her cheer. It consisted of chants, spins, twirls and a brief aerial routine. Every time it started out, it seemed to go well enough. After a few seconds of performance, it turned into a mild disaster. This happened every time, though Rosewood noticed as the routines went on the filly got a bit better.
Having an idea, Rosewood suggested “I'm going to go inside the house. When you can't see me, start up your performance again.”

“Why?”

“Just do it for me. I got a hunch.”

The filly complied with the request and went through her routine. She went though the practiced motions and nothing bad happened. It turned out okay. At the end of it Rosewood appeared in magical flash which startled the Pom Pom a bit.

“I think you are like Heartburn and his singing. He can't sing well in front of other ponies and he chokes up with embarrassment,” the mare explained.

“Wow, really? I never heard Mr Heartburn sing before. How did you find this out?”

“Walked in on his singing while he was showering.”

“Uhm... maybe because he's not comfortable with mares or anypony else while he showers?”

“That can't be it, because he never had a problem with me sharing a shower with him,” Rosewood chuckled.

The mare noticed the filly's confusion, “Moving on! Pom Pom, I think performing in front of other ponies is your problem.”

“Really? I don't see how. Don't feel nervous? Do I?”

“Maybe you do in a way. When you are going through your routine, what's on your mind?”

“I want to do my best, I can be there for others! I'm going to inspire others to achieve all they can be. When I see other ponies' faces, I have to give it my all and make sure they know that they can do it! I can't mess up, but then I end up messing up,” Pom Pom replied with a frown.

“There you go. You need to work on your focus, on yourself while you perform. I say this because you didn't screw up while I was invisible. When you're by yourself, you have no problems and your focus it seems there. When other creatures are around, you just need to channel your energy and concentrate on you routine.”

Pom Pom nodded,” Don't get too excited and distracted?”

“Pretty much what I think. Let's see you do the cheers again, but this time try it with my advice,” Rosewood smiled.

The bat-filly went through her routine again. She tried over again with the mare watching her closely. Slowly over time it became less of a disaster. During the practice, Rosewood would show her tips and how to move a little more gracefully. The unicorn help her work on her focus and concentration as well. Little by little Pom Pom did get better. Time became late and the filly promised she would take what she learned and come back next week. She would tell Rosewood the good or bad news.

During the week she practiced in front of her parents, her friends and random strangers here and there. The first performances were rough but as they went on and with different creatures, Pom Pom gained focus and improved. By the end of the week she didn't crash or caused mayhem anymore. On the day of the last tryouts she was ready.

Later that same day, Pom Pom entered the Gold Zubric. Rosewood was talking to Heartburn, “Alright there stud, I'll hold down the shop while you pick the stuff. It's slow anyhow. I'll be peachy.”

“Very well Mrs. Rosewood. Do hope you can keep yourself out of trouble while I'm gone?”

“Yeah, yeah. I'll make sure to save you some trouble,” she smiled softly as he left the malted shop.

“Hi Rosewood!”

“Gah! Uhm... heh Pom Pom. Didn't see you there.”

Pom Pom was quiet.

Rosewood continued, “How did it go? Bad? Good?”

“I got on the team,” the filly fidgeted.

“But?”

“I'm on the backup squad. A second stringer.”

“Oh, that's not bad! You are on the team. I knew you could do it.”

“Thank you,” the filly replied sullenly.

“What's wrong? Not really what you wanted?”

“Yeah! Mean, I really wanted to be on the team. And I figured I wasn't going to shoot right up to be the captain or the best. But where I am at, not going to do much cheering.”

“Yupe, but within time you'll get much better. You'll be in the forefront if you put the work in.”

“Yeah.”

“Look, I figured you're one of the youngest members of the Hollow Shades cheer squad. Within time you'll get to do more. Be more!”

“Yeah... I just figured with having this cutie mark, it wouldn't be so hard or I would be at least good at this. Espy Edge said I still need a lot of practice.”

“She's right.”

Pom Pom nodded back, “ I know. But if this is my destiny, why is this so hard for me?”

Rosewood laughed, “You're cutie mark? It's not a destiny stamp!”

“It's not?”

“Buck no. It's just a reflection of what you are passionate about.”

Rosewood went closer and gave Pom Pom a hug, “Look filly, you don’t have to follow the cutie mark on your butt.”

“Kind of get this, but I don't know Rosewood. Just figure my life would be set now. I like being on the cheer squad and that's going to be my place now.”

“Just for now. You can do almost anything with your life.”

“Right.”

“When you take a look at my cutie mark, what does it tell you?”

Pom Pom took a good look and answered “Red roses and green vines shaping a heart. I don't get what it means."

"I don't really recall how I got it. Doesn't matter because it's been so long since I got it. I'm old!" Rosewood joked.

"Pretty sure you're in your late 20s or that's what Mr. Heartburn figures."

"Yeah, old! Wait, he talks about me?"

Pom Pom shrugged, “Not supposed to say.”

"Anyhow filly, I've been a student, traveler, soldier, dancer and now I am a waitress. Yay. Maybe I'll find a special somepony and have some foals? Either way your or my mark doesn’t mean we have to do jack. Feel free to be anything you want, even if it's old.”

Pom Pom shrugged again, “You're not old. You're a great dancer and you'll make a great pony for someone special. Plus you're great with me!”

“Thanks. I'm also a good waitress too?”

Pom Pom shrugged yet again, “Eh, maybe you need some work. Don't think that's important now.”

Rosewood snickered, “Oh, okay.”

“Anyhow Mrs. Future Heartburn, I want to thank you again for all the help. I'm sorry I thought you were a blood sucking vampire-pony.”

Rosewood gave a sly grin, “You're welcome.”

“Hey? Can I get an apple milkshake?”

“Sure.”

“On the house because I got on the team?” Pom Pom asked with a smile.

“Buck no!” Rosewood replied. They both laughed at that remark and enjoyed the rest of the day.