Keyboard gave me a cold stare from across the table in my Equestria dreamscape. This little peace talk had been arranged by Scarlet Tips. Keyboard's marefriend and fellow member of Scratch's troupe.

It was after 10pm and we were sitting on cushions around a large, low table in one of the outlying cottages on the grounds of the Silver Mirror estate. The cottage had been converted into a small conference room. A small pitcher of iced tea along with cups, sugar cubes, lemon slices, and a tray of lemon cooler cookies had been laid out as refreshments. Although at the moment they were being ignored.

Scarlet Tips had arranged this little meeting so I was letting her set the pace of this meeting. The griffin looked at both of us, sighed and got the ball rolling. "Alright. I've called you two here because I've already read this book and I know how it ends. There appears to be some misunderstandings that's going to lead to a heap of unnecessary drama unless it gets cleared up."

Since no other pony had the griffin decided to pour herself a glass of ice tea. She took a long sip and continued. "The reason why we're here, and are getting paid by Scratch, is to prepare for her upcoming concert tour. We're here to plan, prepare, and rehearse for it. If we're not committed to that then we got no business being here."

The griffin glanced at me. "Sky Brush. You're here strictly to offer advice and some tips on how we might improve some of our special effects during performances. Correct?"

Following Scarlet Tips lead I'd poured myself a glass of iced tea as well and was in the process of stirring in a heaping teaspoon of sugar. I finished that and took a large gulp. I hadn't realized how parched my mouth was.

"Correct. I'm strictly a part-time consultant for the duration of my contract which will run for no more than six weeks. And while Scratch is very interested in what I have say I have no managerial powers over her staff. Neither do I have the authority to hire or dismiss any member of her permanent staff, or any other consultants, suppliers, or contractors she is currently employing or has plans to." I was pulling out all the professional biz speak I could remember.

Scarlet Tips glanced over at the zebra-striped pegasus mare. "Keyboard you're the head pony in charge of cloud special effects and a backup dancer for Scratch's troupe. Technically you're overseeing all stage effects for this upcoming tour. Correct?"

The mare nodded her head. "Yes I am." She looked me in the eyes. "I'm the pony in charge." For a mare she had a surprisingly deep voice.

The griffin took another swig of her iced tea. Then she continued. "If everypony understands what the responsibilities and authority is then I don't see why there's this friction Keyboard?" She gestured at me with a wing. "Sky Brush here can only offer advice, suggestions, and possible ideas to Scratch. He cannot hire any new members nor can he fire any member of the existing troupe. Nor does he have the authority to override any decisions you make."

The mare snorted and glared at the griffin. " Oh come! You know as well I do that ponies go behind other ponies to get what they want all the time in this business. What's to keep him." She pointed a front hoof at me. "From just going directly to Scratch if he doesn't get his way?"

I felt my wings tense but I tried to keep my face as neutral as possible and my voice as calm as I could. "I'm left with the impression that while Scratch grants her crew a fair bit of creative initiative there's still a very clear chain of command." I locked eyes with the mare. "But circumventing that chain of command doesn't sound like something she's going to casually accept."

Keyboard's eyes narrowed and she glared at me. "Oh I've heard that story before! I've been cut off at the hooves too many times in my life by sweet talking ponies that promised me they'd never yank my tail!" She rose up and put her front hooves on the table. "Besides what can some cloud pusher from some podunk town know about stage effects? You must have some other angle!"

My face went deadpan and I did my best to ignore her comment about Ponyville being a podunk. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then I imagined what Princess Celestia would do and decided to cut to the chase. "Keyboard I'm not gunning for your job. I have a job back home that I'm very proud of, and yes it involves pushing around clouds. I won't force you to accept any of my ideas, but how can you decide if any of them are any good or not if you won't hear them? You're correct when you say I know very little about stage effects. Maybe most of my ideas won't fit the theme of this tour, or will be impractical to implement. But dismissing them without even hear them out is just stupid."

Scarlet Tips took a very long sip of her iced tea and then gave her partner a very icy stare. "Let me remind you that I was born in and grew up in a hide and timber tent that was 2 days away from the nearest town and Scratch still gave me a chance. And the town you grew up in dear was most certainly a podunk as well but you still have your job. For now."

The mare stared at the griffin for a moment. Finally her wits burned through the haze of her emotions and she realized that she'd just stepped on a big old emotional landmine. She sat down and looked at her hooves. For several seconds she was silent. With her head still bowed she spoke softly. "I'm sorry Scarlet. You're right."

She turned her head and looked away from both myself and the griffin. She stared at the far wall for several seconds. "I guess…" She stared down at the black stripes on one of her front legs. "I guess I've been screwed over so many times now that I just assume that everypony." She quickly glanced at her partner and coughed. "I mean I just assume that most ponies I meet are going to do it to me again. And, and in this business especially the competition is fierce."

Keyboard looked at me. "So, when I heard that somepony who I've never of but Scratch is all excited about was coming down here I just figured the worst." She smiled and tilted her head toward the griffin. "Scarlet has seen me do this in the past." The mare shook her wings and ruffled her feathers. "So when I saw that little impromptu demonstration you gave today I let my fears get the best of me. You're rough Sky Brush but you're not bad at it."

I blushed a little. "Oh, I'm more than just rough." I finished my iced tea. "However here's one piece of advice I can give you Keyboard. Scratch has given you this position in the troupe. That means she has faith in you and she trusts your judgement. However from what little I know of her she's going to expect you to keep a open mind. She's going to want your opinion on my ideas, and I'm going to make some. So if you can't give her any constructive feedback that's what she's going to make her start wondering. You may end finding all of my ideas impractical but if you can give her an informed reason why you'll go a lot further with her."

"So Sky Brush–" The mare started to speak and I cut her off.

"Actually Keyboard. Just call me by my nickname. Brick."

She grinned. "Okay Brick. What ideas do you have?"

Scarlet Tips groaned and shook her head. Apparently she was familiar with these sudden mood swings in her mercurial partner. "Okay. Can we call these peace talks a success?" Keyboard and I nodded our heads. She looked at the mostly empty pitcher of iced tea. Good! Now! Before you two start gabbing on all night lets go get some real drinks! Sun and Moon I need one!"

To be continued.