"Will you be able to do it?" Matthias asked Octavia, a gray mare with a purple treble clef for a cutie mark.
"I don't see any problem." she replied, glancing at the other musicians. Each of them nodded. "Give us few minutes to prepare and we should be ready."
"Take all the time you need." Matt said, moving away. "Call me when you're sure you're ready."
"What had you started to say after our duel, Illidan? 'You are not prepared'?" he thought as he made his way over to where everypony - the bride and the groom, the best mare and the bridemaids, the Princess of the Day and the Princess of the Night - stood. "Somewhere out there you are laughing at me, aren't you?"
"So?" asked Twilight with a smirk.
"'So' what?" Matt replied with a question, being casual.
"Are we gonna hear you sing, or not?" she specified her question, frowning.
"I already told Princess Cadance and Shining Armor that I am going to sing. Are you suggesting that I would go back on my word?" Matt answered, pretending to be surprised and offended. "Shame on you, Twilight, I thought you know me better."
The look she gave him in response told him to not push it. Everypony else seemed to be amused, though.
"Now, Matthias," said Rarity, "you do realise that this is a wedding, so songs about..."
"... war and death are not appropriate?" finished for her Matt, grinning. "You know, my world isn't that bad as to have only those kind of songs, although I do plan to sing one or two sad ones, so that a few love couples will have an excuse to hug tightly. Anyway," he said as he trotted over to the closest table, "the musicians need a few minutes to prepare so I thought I would use this time to prepare myself as well."
"What do'ya mean by 'prepare'?" asked Applejack.
Matthias replied by picking up a bottle of wine.
"Really?" asked Shining Armor as Matt uncorked the bottle.
"I have no problem performing in front of a crowd, as you can guess by the spectacle in the Grand Arena yesterday, but singing is another matter." he answered as he lifted the bottle, backed his head and put the bottleneck into his mouth.
Everypony looked with wide eyes, either out of amazement or dismay, as Matthias proceeded to drink the bottle in one go.
"Um... Matt?" asked Applejack.
He lifted a hoof, signaling her and the others to wait. In few more gulps he completely emptied the bottle. He shook his head, put the empty bottle back in the table, and looked at them.
"Are you trying to get drunk?" asked Shining Armor, who was the first one to recover.
"With wine?" Matthias asked and chuckled. "Remind me once to introduce you to a dwarven ale, that's the strong stuff. Your Highnesses, I hope you'll forgive me that act on account of being roped into singing." he added, bowing his head toward all three princesses, and they nodded in response, although a bit surprised.
The others were still gazing at him, unsure how to react.
"If you excuse me for a moment, I need to take care of something. Be right back." Matt said, bowing his head, and made his way toward the closest toilet.
Twilight frowned as they all glanced at Matt talking with the musicians ten minutes later. She intended this to be his punishment, but he seemed to be dealing with this somehow.
"Oh, well." Twilight thought, resigned. "At least this means I won't turn Cadance and Shining Armor's wedding into a disaster."
But still, she was surprised that he managed to tell the musician what music to play. She didn't knew he was that talented.
"He is a master in terms of combat, he can call upon the power of Light, he knows a lot about battle strategies - according to Shining Armor, his knowledge about his world is astonishing, he is well familiar with an etiquette of the elite circles, but at the same time, he can act like a pony that doesn't know anything about it, can tell musicians how to play a melody that they never heard of..." she pondered about everything she knew about him, wondering if there was more to him than she knew.
"Ah think they're 'bout to start." Applejack said, interrupting her train of thoughts.
Twilight glanced at the space in front of the musicians, where Matt now stood, armed with a microphone. At the same time, DJ Pon-3 stopped spinning the vinyls.
"Good evening, everypony." said Matthias, as all the guests turned to him once the music stopped playing. "To those of you who don't know me - my name is Matthias Lehner, and I am a pony that used to live far away from Equestria. I have been asked to perform a few songs from my homeland, and although I'm not a big enthusiast of singing in public, it would have been impolite to refuse, so please, bear with me, ponies, and dance to the music."
When he finished, the musicians started playing a melody. Matt took few breaths, and started singing:
Who do I turn to when things are broken?
Where do I go when I'm feeling alone?
Who's always there with arms wide open, it's you.
Yeah, it's you.
Twilight wasn't surprised when she saw that more than few ponies opted to simply listen to the song instead of dancing.
Where do I hide when it's dark and stormy?
Where do I run when it's all too much?
Who gives me hope when I wake each morning, it's you.
Yeah, it's you.
You were there for me in my darkest days,
You cared for me when I lost my way,
My guiding light, you always pulled me through,
I believe in you.
Yeah yeah.
When I stumble and fall, you take my hoof.
When I don't have a clue, you know what to do.
When nothing makes sense, you help me to understand.
It's true.
It seems like forever, it's been you and me.
I know who you really are.
Sometimes I wonder where would I be without you?
Yeah yeah.
You were there for me in my darkest days,
You cared for me when I lost my way,
My guiding light, you always pulled me through,
Yeah, you gave me strength when I was weak,
You were my voice when I could not speak,
One ray of hope that I could hold onto,
Yeah, I believe in you.
Yeah, I believe in you.
You were there for me in my darkest days,
You cared for me when I lost my way,
My guiding light, you always pulled me through,
Yeah, you gave me strength when I was weak,
You were my voice when I could not speak,
One ray of hope that I could hold onto,
Yeah, I believe in you.
You were there for me in my darkest days,
You cared for me when I lost my way,
My guiding light, you always pulled me through,
Yeah, I believe in you.
Yeah, I believe in you.
The song was over before anypony noticed. As soon as it ended, the sound of stomping could be heard. Matt bowed, and turned around a bit to drink a few sips from a glass of water, as the musicians started to play once again.
"The next song is a bit slower, so it's mostly for couples." said Matthias, winking at Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, and once again started to sing:
Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar
My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Did you ever know?
That I had mine on you
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If a frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
So let me come to you
Close as I wanna be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you?
Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your Tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the armor and the weapon
Just reach me out, then
You will know that you are not dreaming
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If a frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
Once again, as the song stopped, ponies started stomping, giving their thanks to the singer and musicians, who after a short break started to play another melody.
"The next song," said Matthias after he cleared his throat and the music started, "isn't exactly one you would expect to hear on wedding reception, but I was given a free hoof, and I would have liked to honor... a memory of a little filly from a small village called Darrowshire."
He looked up into the sky, and opened his mouth:
I've seen a great many things that cause a stallion to wonder
I've seen a great many things that can tear a stallion's heart asunder
But the day that will not let me go, it haunts me to my burning soul
Is the day I found Pamela wandering Darrowshire
Can you help me find my dolly? I left her by the window sill
Have you seen my daddy? I think he went off to war
And can you tell my family I've been missing them for oh so very long
Ask them why'd they leave me here alone in Darrowshire
I bring word from your sister, she's alive and well in Winterspring
Here I found your dolly, it's up to you to keep her safe
And your father's coming home again. The war for him is over
And your spirits once again may be at rest in Darrowshire
Twilight almost whirled as she heard the last line. Was Matt implying that this... Pamela, was a ghost?
"Then again, he did die once. I suppose it's not impossible." she thought, looking at the crowd of ponies.
Like Matt predicted, those who could hugged somepony tightly. Twilight was beginning to wish that she could hug somepony after that sad song, when suddenly:
"That was sooo sad!" cried Pinkie as she hugged tightly all five of them.
"Pinkie, get a hold of yourself!"
"Okay." said Pinkie, calming down almost immediately.
Twilight shook her head and turned her attention back to Matt, who started another song:
Just look from there once more
Look from the place that you returned to
Just let the soft, soft waves
heal your heart so tired from sadness
Just begin to dream once more,
to bring back your 'courage'
And from just that dream,
let the passion you once forgot
into your smile and melt your frozen heart
Yes, on that Friday that I saw you
riding on the back of waves
Let your emotion overflow
Just like you did back then
Let me see that shine anew
Let me see that shining you
Just like you did back then
Let me see that smile anew
Let me see that smiling you
Ripples on the waves
Battles on the brain
Can you ease my mind?
Can you feel the strain?
Carry me across the sea
Carry me to days gone by
Let me feel what I felt then
Let old passions fly
Love the ones you have lost
Love the times you knew
But new life has come along and
It needs your love too
Rippling waves will bring me home
Back to where life starts
Rippling waves will bring with me
My beloved's heart
Rippling waves, rippling waves
Rippling waves of love
Just one more time, please look
At the place you wish to return to
And allow the quiet small ripples of time
To heal your tired heart
Just one more time, please dream
And remember the dream called courage
The passion you have forgotten
Will melt the ice in your heart
Memories of you riding that wave
Fills my mind, even now
On that Friday
Memories of that time
I wish to see you shine again
Shining like a new star
Like a new moon
Memories of those times
I wish to see you smile again
Smiling
"The next song is going to be in a different language." said Matthias after he finished and the musicians started to play a new melody. "I would have translated it for you, but it doesn't sound so beautiful."
Anar'alah, Anar'alah belore
Quel'dorei
Shindu fallah na
Quel'dorei
Anar'alah
Shindu Quel'dorei
Shindu fallah na
Quel'dorei
Anar'alah belore
Shindu Quel'dorei
Shindu fallah na
Quel'dorei
Anar'alah belore
Belore
Twilight frowned. Something about that song told her that this wasn't one that would fit an occasion like a wedding party.
She looked as Matt prepared to sing once more.
"This is going to be the last song." he said, and, noticing the disappointment on almost everypony's faces, he added: "I'm sorry, but on such short notice I can't remind myself more songs."
As he opened his mouth and started to sing, he looked at Twilight. She could swear she saw him wink at her.
You can reach for the stars
And know that in your heart
You have the strength deep inside.
Let it be your guide.
You can fly past the moon
And race all afternoon.
Don't be afraid to make a choice.
Raise your voice.
Just follow your star.
Spread your wings and be free.
Wherever you are
Is right where you should be.
So listen to your heart
And believe in what you dream.
And follow, follow your star.
Twilight was beginning to understand that Matt winked at her to refer to her cutie mark. She blushed, wondering how many times he was going to repeat the world 'star'.
There's a time when you know
How to find your destiny.
And with each turn in the road
It's clear for you to see.
So push through the days
Don't let your spirit fade.
Throw away all your doubts.
I'll sing out loud.
Just follow your star.
Spread your wings and be free.
Wherever you are
Is right where you should be.
So listen to your heart
And believe in what you dream.
And follow, follow your star.
Just follow your star.
Spread your wings and be free.
Wherever you are
Is right where you should be.
So listen to your heart
And believe in what you dream.
And follow, follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Follow your star.
Just follow your star.
As Matthias's song was coming to an end, the Light started to envelop him, but the moment he finished, a bigger pillar of Light appeared around Cadance and Shining Armor.
"May the Light's blessings be with you." said Matt, bowing. "Everypony, thank you for your attention, you've been a lovely audience. Remember to congratulate the newly wed, if you haven't yet."
He bowed once again, as the Light disappeared from him, but stayed on Cadance and Shining Armor, although dimmed, and with that, Matthias moved away.