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Description
It was a bright and sunny morning in Ponyville, and Shenny was already up and about, a pale-brown earth pony, with rich chestnut man and tail.  He had a big event to get ready – this year, he'd been chosen to organise the Grand Galloping Gala – him!  How vividly he remembered his first events, as a colt, tea parties with forlorn bundles of twigs and dolls 'liberated' from fillies on the playing fields.  Now here he was, organising the mane event for all of Equestria!  He was determined to do it differently – which was why instead of heading to Vinyl Scratch's place, he was instead venturing to the edge of the Everfree Forest, to see a pony who was very fond of his privacy – Snap.

The two had been colts together, although never friends, Snap preferring to keep to himself and sneer at anypony who came near, whilst Shenny would enthusiastically try to 'network' with everypony he could find by giving them a conker.  They both had big dreams then, but Snap had taken the coveted place of being the first to get his cutie mark, whilst Shenny was left to the taunts.  Whilst the fillies had 'blank flank' as their term of abuse, the colts had something worse, something not said in front of teachers, a suggestion that not only did you have no talent, but that you were never going to lay your hoof on any other pony: 'wank flank'.  So Shenny hadn't been the last colt of his year to get his cutie mark, but he still remembered the slew of taunts, Snap's eyes raking over him disdainfully as he walked past – possibly something to do with their rivalries over the decks at the time, Snap's talent safe and assured, Shenny's still unknown.  Still, they were both big ponies now, with their own businesses and own lives.  Surely all that had been forgotten?

"Well, if it isn't wank flank." Snap drawled, opening the door.  The pale red pony arched an eyebrow as Shenny gaped, unable to believe what he was hearing.  Snap tossed his head, letting that long dark red and black mane flutter, "Did you want something?"
All Shenny could think was that Snap kept his mane far longer than any respectable stallion, but then, he'd never striven to be respectable, had he, always happy to stand out in the crowd.  That was what his school report had said after the incident with the alcohol and naked flames, anyway.
"I'm organising the Gala this year," Shenny blurted out, cursing his pride and enthusiasm, "And I want you to do the music for it."
"Too mainstream." Snap said, bluntly, and the door slammed in Shenny's face.
"Fuck this," he groused, heading back into town, "I thought this place was supposed to be all about friendship."  There was mud on his hooves, too, and he was yet to ask Rarity to organise a fashion show.  Time for a wash, then.

Another week had gone by, and Ponyville was as yet unaware that the Grand Galloping Gala was being organised in their midst.  Now, true, part of event management could indeed be said to be getting the word out, but Shenny still didn't have the music he wanted, and he wasn't going to give up.  Snap had a gig later on in town, and Shenny was determined to arrive, and persuade the red pony that his event was going to be unlike any other Gala ever held.  After all, whilst the usual fixtures were there, like Rarity's fashion show, he had also planned a flying show by Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts, Fluttershy had arranged an animal display, too.  He'd thought very carefully about making the Gala more than just a party for pretty dresses and those who wanted to show off.  At least, he really hoped he had, because that was what this was supposed to be all about, and was going to be the mane attraction of this year's Gala.  So he'd procured tickets to… whatever this was Snap was going to be part of, some idea of Pinkie Pie's, apparently, which probably meant Snap would clash with the décor.  Rarity wouldn't be impressed.

The music was pretty loud, and Shenny took a moment to mourn what he thought might once have been his talent, before his cutie mark came through.  Perhaps he wasn't built for the spotlight, better to be busy in the background, organising and getting things ready so everyone else could have a great time.  There were still points where he'd try his hoof at the decks, but as an earth pony, he would never have the skill that the unicorn ponies had – although he came closer than any other earth pony had, he knew that much.  Be he pushed that thought to the back of his mind; he was hear to talk to Snap, to convince him, not to set up old rivalries, especially battles he was never going to win.  Not now the cutie mark battle was over, anyway – it wasn't his talent, and he had to be secure in what was, not what might have been.  He glanced over at Snap, who seemed to be in full control, although there was no sign of a smile, as ever, the focus overwriting what might have been enjoyment in any other pony – but Shenny could see the talent, anyway, the pure sense of knowing what you were doing was right for you, that you were always going to be one of the best at what you were doing.  It looked… right on him, and Shenny shook his head to get rid of the thought.  He was here to be convincing, not stare like some silly filly with a crush.

Snap had noticed eyes on him, though, not nearly as engrossed in his music as he seemed, though he was paying close attention.  It never did to be underprepared, and wow, his inner voice had never sounded so much like Rarity in his life.  He settled his attention back to his tracklist and let his eyes slide sideways to spot Shenny, quite clearly out of place and out of step in the throbbing music, and Snap wondered how he'd ever thought that Shenny might best him in what he did, seeing the idiot bumbling through the crowd of ponies at the party, pushing this way and that, leaving trodden-on hooves in his wake.  But that could wait, would have to wait, until later, when he could take time to lambaste the stupid colt properly.  For now, three more tracks until Vinyl took over and he was relegated back to Ponyville's second best DJ.  It was always a bitter pill to swallow, but he took comfort in the fact that she was shacking up with Photo Finish and Hoity Toity, and with any luck, they'd have broken her by next Thursday. DJ P0n3, his left back foot – P0s3r was more like it.  Not that he wasn't grateful that she'd shown him just what it was possible to be in a little town like Ponyville, where no one had even heard of sophisticated musical taste, but now she could get out of his way.  He was going to be the biggest star Ponyville had – even if he hadn't got a role in that stupid documentary they were filming about friendship.

Shenny took a space near the wall, near Doctor Whooves, who was leaning back and enjoying the view, possibly of Carrot Top, he couldn't be sure, but certainly not joining in, at any rate.  Their colouring was similar enough that Shenny often wondered if they were related, but the only time he'd asked, the Doctor just laughed at him, and wandered off, still cackling to himself.  So no such luck as to be related to the pony of mystery.  He watched Snap relinquish the stage for Vinyl Scratch, and smiled as she ripped into a faster and better remix of whatever Snap had just been playing, smirking the whole time.  She should have known better than to wind him up, as he knocked the legs of the table supporting the decks, slyly, and the track skipped.  In the pause, he slipped out of view, and Shenny pushed himself off the wall to go and offer to buy the DJ pony a drink – after all, he couldn't buy his own since the incident with the vodka, and boy, had he been glad the documentary hadn't been filming that day, because that would have been pretty embarrassing.  It was already pretty embarrassing that they'd chosen to leave most of the colts and stallions out, unless they had a familial or story-based relation to the girls they'd chosen to star in it.  Shenny scoffed – Twilight Sparkle could keep her documentary – he was going to create the best Grand Galloping Gala that Equestria had ever seen!  As long as he could catch up with his chosen DJ before he left, that was.

Snap was halfway out the door when Shenny's teeth gripped his mane.
"What – "
"I saw that.  Vinyl's got nothing on you."
"As if you'd know." Snap sneered, but he stopped all the same, looking a little pleased to have his obvious superiority noticed.
"Which is why I want you for the Gala," Shenny said, bluntly, "You're the best, and that's what I want my Gala to be.  I can't have that without you."
Snap gave him an arch of an eyebrow again, but this was a little kinder, less bitter and more of a gentle tease.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't do to let you hire some complete incompetent, would it?"
"It's… uh, not exactly hiring," Shenny admitted, "As there's no money involved, but it will get your name out pretty well.  You'll overtake her, at the very least, and get known somewhere other than Ponyville."
"So all of this has just been a ruse to get my services for free." Snap sais, a little too placidly.
Shenny shrugged, which is actually fairly difficult if you're a pony, and had the grace to look embarrassed.
"It won't hurt your reputation." He promised.
"It had better not." Snap said, walking away.  In the end, they were both a little surprised that he'd agreed at all, never mind so easily.

The Grand Galloping Gala was the social event of the year, Shenny remembered, watching it all go on around him.  He'd planned this, from start to finish, he thought, proudly, everything, down to the last detail, was perfect.  He tucked himself up behind Snap when the more musical portion of the evening started, because there was a modicum of privacy for anyone sat down behind the decks and the crowd of speakers.  The unicorn pony could just work with the distraction – Shenny was fairly sure it was either hide behind Snap for an hour or realise he'd just organised the biggest event of the year, and then he'd end up wheezing into a paper bag, which was no way for any event organiser to behave.  So he settled down on the floor, ignoring the glance Snap cast him when he wasn't deep in concentration, and focussed on counting to ten, very slowly, over and over.  It was easier than staring at Snap's tail as it twitched from side to side, although most of the rest of him was motionless.  You could get ideas from that tail, if you weren't careful, so Shenny closed his eyes and paid attention to his breathing.
"Stage fright?" Snap mouthed at him, the next time he opened his eyes, and Shenny made a face before the DJ pony turned back to his work.  This time, Shenny kept his eyes open, watching Snap shift his feet a little, tail moving again.  It wasn't a bad view, all things considered, if you accepted Snap needed a good few meals, and that he was fairly attractive when he wasn't sneering, which wasn't often, or wearing an incredibly blank face, as if he'd just won the national championships at not caring.  It looked like an act, though, when you looked closer, and Shenny found himself wondering just how difficult it would be to make the red pony change expression.  So he nuzzled his flank, gently.

Snap was fairly lucky he'd just finished his set, and that from the other side of the room, music was being pumped out from a mix already set up, because the moment Shenny nuzzled him, he froze.
"Do that again," he snarled, "And I'll turn you into a gelding."
He heard the snort, and growled at the idea of Shenny disbelieving him, as he was nuzzled again, for longer this time, and with more intent.  Ponies were starting to filter away to the remains of the entertainment, or to head home after an exhausting night out, and Snap turned his head, slowly.
"Stop. That." He ground out, and Shenny just gave him a grin, ducking his head to lick at the cutie mark he'd once been so jealous of, and listening to Snap make a little noise which could have been want, but could just as easily have been annoyance, "Not here.  There's… ponies could… I mean."
"Everyone will be gone in half an hour – and it's your equipment, I've never seen you take less than an hour to pack up.  No one will be surprised if you stay longer – and as the organiser, obviously I have to see everyone leaves the site safely." Shenny said, smirk belying his real intentions.  Snap looked out over the field that had been chosen for the venue.  Everypony was pretty much gone, and the overhead lights had just gone off…
"You planned this." He said, almost admiringly, "You really were given a talent for organising."
Shenny laughed.
"A tumble over the tables, then?  I always thought that's where our rivalry would lead us."
Snap cast a look at his equipment – perhaps expensive, and precious, but not irreplaceable.  He looked back at Shenny – perhaps dim, and frumpy, but not ignorable.
"Yeah." He said, quietly, "Yeah, okay."

Perhaps it was a good thing that their first round took place somewhere they could bellow at each other.
"Look, I'm not being – "
"Wasn't even going to bother asking, of course you're the one doing the mounting."
Really, they could have done with less breakable equipment.
"Watch where you're putting that hoof!"
"Well, if you had any idea what you were doing – "
"I can work it out, thank you."
"Well, hurry up, or I'll send Vinyl Scratch to give you some lessons, she's got all the right equipment for this sort of thing."
"And how do you know so much about all of this?"
"That whole 'wank flank' thing?  At one point, I really did think that my talent was going to be sex.  So did a lot of other ponies, too."
"Yeah, right."
When they eventually call a truce, they're sated, the stage is a mess, and Shenny thinks he's going to have hoofprints on his withers for weeks… but it was worth it.
"Alright, I admit it, you're as good as you said." Snap said, at last, from where he was slumped on the floor, "You sure you're not hiding a second cutie mark somewhere?"
"You've explored me fairly thoroughly, so you'd know.  Although… perhaps a little extra investigation wouldn't go amiss." Shenny murmured, trying to stretch out his spine.
Snap smiled, a fleeting glance of something Shenny didn't even want to miss, and muttered something the other pony couldn't hear.
"What was that?"
"I said it's a damn good job the documentary crew weren't allowed into the Gala.  Wouldn't do to have got this filmed."
"Pretty lucky." Shenny agreed.
But we know better, don't we, boys and girls?

Description
It was a bright and sunny morning in Ponyville, and Shenny was already up and about, a pale-brown earth pony, with rich chestnut man and tail.  He had a big event to get ready – this year, he'd been chosen to organise the Grand Galloping Gala – him!  How vividly he remembered his first events, as a colt, tea parties with forlorn bundles of twigs and dolls 'liberated' from fillies on the playing fields.  Now here he was, organising the mane event for all of Equestria!  He was determined to do it differently – which was why instead of heading to Vinyl Scratch's place, he was instead venturing to the edge of the Everfree Forest, to see a pony who was very fond of his privacy – Snap.

The two had been colts together, although never friends, Snap preferring to keep to himself and sneer at anypony who came near, whilst Shenny would enthusiastically try to 'network' with everypony he could find by giving them a conker.  They both had big dreams then, but Snap had taken the coveted place of being the first to get his cutie mark, whilst Shenny was left to the taunts.  Whilst the fillies had 'blank flank' as their term of abuse, the colts had something worse, something not said in front of teachers, a suggestion that not only did you have no talent, but that you were never going to lay your hoof on any other pony: 'wank flank'.  So Shenny hadn't been the last colt of his year to get his cutie mark, but he still remembered the slew of taunts, Snap's eyes raking over him disdainfully as he walked past – possibly something to do with their rivalries over the decks at the time, Snap's talent safe and assured, Shenny's still unknown.  Still, they were both big ponies now, with their own businesses and own lives.  Surely all that had been forgotten?

"Well, if it isn't wank flank." Snap drawled, opening the door.  The pale red pony arched an eyebrow as Shenny gaped, unable to believe what he was hearing.  Snap tossed his head, letting that long dark red and black mane flutter, "Did you want something?"
All Shenny could think was that Snap kept his mane far longer than any respectable stallion, but then, he'd never striven to be respectable, had he, always happy to stand out in the crowd.  That was what his school report had said after the incident with the alcohol and naked flames, anyway.
"I'm organising the Gala this year," Shenny blurted out, cursing his pride and enthusiasm, "And I want you to do the music for it."
"Too mainstream." Snap said, bluntly, and the door slammed in Shenny's face.
"Fuck this," he groused, heading back into town, "I thought this place was supposed to be all about friendship."  There was mud on his hooves, too, and he was yet to ask Rarity to organise a fashion show.  Time for a wash, then.

Another week had gone by, and Ponyville was as yet unaware that the Grand Galloping Gala was being organised in their midst.  Now, true, part of event management could indeed be said to be getting the word out, but Shenny still didn't have the music he wanted, and he wasn't going to give up.  Snap had a gig later on in town, and Shenny was determined to arrive, and persuade the red pony that his event was going to be unlike any other Gala ever held.  After all, whilst the usual fixtures were there, like Rarity's fashion show, he had also planned a flying show by Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts, Fluttershy had arranged an animal display, too.  He'd thought very carefully about making the Gala more than just a party for pretty dresses and those who wanted to show off.  At least, he really hoped he had, because that was what this was supposed to be all about, and was going to be the mane attraction of this year's Gala.  So he'd procured tickets to… whatever this was Snap was going to be part of, some idea of Pinkie Pie's, apparently, which probably meant Snap would clash with the décor.  Rarity wouldn't be impressed.

The music was pretty loud, and Shenny took a moment to mourn what he thought might once have been his talent, before his cutie mark came through.  Perhaps he wasn't built for the spotlight, better to be busy in the background, organising and getting things ready so everyone else could have a great time.  There were still points where he'd try his hoof at the decks, but as an earth pony, he would never have the skill that the unicorn ponies had – although he came closer than any other earth pony had, he knew that much.  Be he pushed that thought to the back of his mind; he was hear to talk to Snap, to convince him, not to set up old rivalries, especially battles he was never going to win.  Not now the cutie mark battle was over, anyway – it wasn't his talent, and he had to be secure in what was, not what might have been.  He glanced over at Snap, who seemed to be in full control, although there was no sign of a smile, as ever, the focus overwriting what might have been enjoyment in any other pony – but Shenny could see the talent, anyway, the pure sense of knowing what you were doing was right for you, that you were always going to be one of the best at what you were doing.  It looked… right on him, and Shenny shook his head to get rid of the thought.  He was here to be convincing, not stare like some silly filly with a crush.

Snap had noticed eyes on him, though, not nearly as engrossed in his music as he seemed, though he was paying close attention.  It never did to be underprepared, and wow, his inner voice had never sounded so much like Rarity in his life.  He settled his attention back to his tracklist and let his eyes slide sideways to spot Shenny, quite clearly out of place and out of step in the throbbing music, and Snap wondered how he'd ever thought that Shenny might best him in what he did, seeing the idiot bumbling through the crowd of ponies at the party, pushing this way and that, leaving trodden-on hooves in his wake.  But that could wait, would have to wait, until later, when he could take time to lambaste the stupid colt properly.  For now, three more tracks until Vinyl took over and he was relegated back to Ponyville's second best DJ.  It was always a bitter pill to swallow, but he took comfort in the fact that she was shacking up with Photo Finish and Hoity Toity, and with any luck, they'd have broken her by next Thursday. DJ P0n3, his left back foot – P0s3r was more like it.  Not that he wasn't grateful that she'd shown him just what it was possible to be in a little town like Ponyville, where no one had even heard of sophisticated musical taste, but now she could get out of his way.  He was going to be the biggest star Ponyville had – even if he hadn't got a role in that stupid documentary they were filming about friendship.

Shenny took a space near the wall, near Doctor Whooves, who was leaning back and enjoying the view, possibly of Carrot Top, he couldn't be sure, but certainly not joining in, at any rate.  Their colouring was similar enough that Shenny often wondered if they were related, but the only time he'd asked, the Doctor just laughed at him, and wandered off, still cackling to himself.  So no such luck as to be related to the pony of mystery.  He watched Snap relinquish the stage for Vinyl Scratch, and smiled as she ripped into a faster and better remix of whatever Snap had just been playing, smirking the whole time.  She should have known better than to wind him up, as he knocked the legs of the table supporting the decks, slyly, and the track skipped.  In the pause, he slipped out of view, and Shenny pushed himself off the wall to go and offer to buy the DJ pony a drink – after all, he couldn't buy his own since the incident with the vodka, and boy, had he been glad the documentary hadn't been filming that day, because that would have been pretty embarrassing.  It was already pretty embarrassing that they'd chosen to leave most of the colts and stallions out, unless they had a familial or story-based relation to the girls they'd chosen to star in it.  Shenny scoffed – Twilight Sparkle could keep her documentary – he was going to create the best Grand Galloping Gala that Equestria had ever seen!  As long as he could catch up with his chosen DJ before he left, that was.

Snap was halfway out the door when Shenny's teeth gripped his mane.
"What – "
"I saw that.  Vinyl's got nothing on you."
"As if you'd know." Snap sneered, but he stopped all the same, looking a little pleased to have his obvious superiority noticed.
"Which is why I want you for the Gala," Shenny said, bluntly, "You're the best, and that's what I want my Gala to be.  I can't have that without you."
Snap gave him an arch of an eyebrow again, but this was a little kinder, less bitter and more of a gentle tease.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't do to let you hire some complete incompetent, would it?"
"It's… uh, not exactly hiring," Shenny admitted, "As there's no money involved, but it will get your name out pretty well.  You'll overtake her, at the very least, and get known somewhere other than Ponyville."
"So all of this has just been a ruse to get my services for free." Snap sais, a little too placidly.
Shenny shrugged, which is actually fairly difficult if you're a pony, and had the grace to look embarrassed.
"It won't hurt your reputation." He promised.
"It had better not." Snap said, walking away.  In the end, they were both a little surprised that he'd agreed at all, never mind so easily.

The Grand Galloping Gala was the social event of the year, Shenny remembered, watching it all go on around him.  He'd planned this, from start to finish, he thought, proudly, everything, down to the last detail, was perfect.  He tucked himself up behind Snap when the more musical portion of the evening started, because there was a modicum of privacy for anyone sat down behind the decks and the crowd of speakers.  The unicorn pony could just work with the distraction – Shenny was fairly sure it was either hide behind Snap for an hour or realise he'd just organised the biggest event of the year, and then he'd end up wheezing into a paper bag, which was no way for any event organiser to behave.  So he settled down on the floor, ignoring the glance Snap cast him when he wasn't deep in concentration, and focussed on counting to ten, very slowly, over and over.  It was easier than staring at Snap's tail as it twitched from side to side, although most of the rest of him was motionless.  You could get ideas from that tail, if you weren't careful, so Shenny closed his eyes and paid attention to his breathing.
"Stage fright?" Snap mouthed at him, the next time he opened his eyes, and Shenny made a face before the DJ pony turned back to his work.  This time, Shenny kept his eyes open, watching Snap shift his feet a little, tail moving again.  It wasn't a bad view, all things considered, if you accepted Snap needed a good few meals, and that he was fairly attractive when he wasn't sneering, which wasn't often, or wearing an incredibly blank face, as if he'd just won the national championships at not caring.  It looked like an act, though, when you looked closer, and Shenny found himself wondering just how difficult it would be to make the red pony change expression.  So he nuzzled his flank, gently.

Snap was fairly lucky he'd just finished his set, and that from the other side of the room, music was being pumped out from a mix already set up, because the moment Shenny nuzzled him, he froze.
"Do that again," he snarled, "And I'll turn you into a gelding."
He heard the snort, and growled at the idea of Shenny disbelieving him, as he was nuzzled again, for longer this time, and with more intent.  Ponies were starting to filter away to the remains of the entertainment, or to head home after an exhausting night out, and Snap turned his head, slowly.
"Stop. That." He ground out, and Shenny just gave him a grin, ducking his head to lick at the cutie mark he'd once been so jealous of, and listening to Snap make a little noise which could have been want, but could just as easily have been annoyance, "Not here.  There's… ponies could… I mean."
"Everyone will be gone in half an hour – and it's your equipment, I've never seen you take less than an hour to pack up.  No one will be surprised if you stay longer – and as the organiser, obviously I have to see everyone leaves the site safely." Shenny said, smirk belying his real intentions.  Snap looked out over the field that had been chosen for the venue.  Everypony was pretty much gone, and the overhead lights had just gone off…
"You planned this." He said, almost admiringly, "You really were given a talent for organising."
Shenny laughed.
"A tumble over the tables, then?  I always thought that's where our rivalry would lead us."
Snap cast a look at his equipment – perhaps expensive, and precious, but not irreplaceable.  He looked back at Shenny – perhaps dim, and frumpy, but not ignorable.
"Yeah." He said, quietly, "Yeah, okay."

Perhaps it was a good thing that their first round took place somewhere they could bellow at each other.
"Look, I'm not being – "
"Wasn't even going to bother asking, of course you're the one doing the mounting."
Really, they could have done with less breakable equipment.
"Watch where you're putting that hoof!"
"Well, if you had any idea what you were doing – "
"I can work it out, thank you."
"Well, hurry up, or I'll send Vinyl Scratch to give you some lessons, she's got all the right equipment for this sort of thing."
"And how do you know so much about all of this?"
"That whole 'wank flank' thing?  At one point, I really did think that my talent was going to be sex.  So did a lot of other ponies, too."
"Yeah, right."
When they eventually call a truce, they're sated, the stage is a mess, and Shenny thinks he's going to have hoofprints on his withers for weeks… but it was worth it.
"Alright, I admit it, you're as good as you said." Snap said, at last, from where he was slumped on the floor, "You sure you're not hiding a second cutie mark somewhere?"
"You've explored me fairly thoroughly, so you'd know.  Although… perhaps a little extra investigation wouldn't go amiss." Shenny murmured, trying to stretch out his spine.
Snap smiled, a fleeting glance of something Shenny didn't even want to miss, and muttered something the other pony couldn't hear.
"What was that?"
"I said it's a damn good job the documentary crew weren't allowed into the Gala.  Wouldn't do to have got this filmed."
"Pretty lucky." Shenny agreed.
But we know better, don't we, boys and girls?