//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: Ponville High: Tempo's Story // by Krynnymuffin //------------------------------// It's been nearly seventy years since the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, defeated Tirek and claimed her throne. In that time, Equestria has abolished nobility and the monarchical government it once used and made way for a ministerial democracy. After the Annex of the Crystal Kingdom, Equestria had Six rulers. It was they who created this new form of government. The four princesses of Equestria, Celestia, Luna, Mi Amore Cadenza, more commonly known as Cadence, and Twilight Sparkle, Cadence's Husband and Twilight Sparkle's brother, Shining Armor, and the secret leader of Equestria, kept from the public for obvious reasons, Discord, seemingly out of nowhere, decreed these ministries into being. The PLD, Princesses, Love and Discord, as the old government is affectionately called nowadays, eased Equestria into the new form of government where everypony makes the rules, everypony enforces the rules and everypony follows the rules. It was different than the ponies of Equestria were used to, but the first generation were able to adapt, for the most part, and elected ministers for the various ministries that were created. The first ministries were the Ministry of Domestic Development, which was charged with developing Equestria from the inside, as things were going to be different from then on, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to deal with Equestria's Neighbors, the Ministry of Organization, which was in charge with keeping each ministry organized and informed of what each other ministry was doing, the Ministry of Finance, which kept the economy of Equestria in check, the Ministry of Research and Development, which researched new spells and developed new technologies, and the Ministry of Astral Affairs, which consisted of Celestia and Luna, who continue to raise and lower the sun and moon for the ponies of Equestria even today. As the new government grew and changed, so did the ponies. It was with a great weight in the hearts of Equestrians that two more ministries had to be founded. The Ministry of Harmony and the Ministry of Discord. The Ministry of Discord was given the task of finding, we'll say, troublemakers and bringing them to the Ministry of Harmony, which implemented the new judicial system of Equestria. It wasn't just the government that developed. Society, too, developed with it. In an Equestria where anypony and everypony had the ability to run the country, education, status and wealth became more important to Equestrian ponies. And this is where we get into our story. With more and more ponies desiring further education than the old system allowed, the school system was changed by the MDD. Foals would go to "grade school" for six, sometimes seven or eight, years, depending on the district. After which, they went to "junior high school" for two to three more years, which would prepare them for "high school" for the next three to four years, resulting in a total of thirteen to fourteen years of school. Any education after that was not funded by the MDD, so some ponies who had the wealth created a next phase of school they called "college." Our story takes place in high school. Heh, heh. Did you think this story was going be about politics? Of course you didn't! ... Right? Anyway, this is a story about a student who recently transferred to Ponyville High a week into the first semester of his first year in high school. His name is Tempo. Transferring to another school at this time in the year is probably the worse possible situation for a freshman in high school. It's still the very beginning of the year, but it's already been long enough for everypony else to get to know each other. Tempo used to be a student in Canterlot Public High School, but his twice-great grandmother, the well known Octavia, whose music is still listened to today, has passed away after living such a long life, and has left her humble home in Ponyville to her daughter. Being on her last leg herself, she passed it on to her first son. But Tempo's grandpa liked the Manehatten life, so the house was given to one who would use it, Tempo's mother, Metronome. Metronome had recently been notified that she was eligible for a promotion job in Ponyville and was currently searching for a place to live there, so she accepted the house with much appreciation. Tempo, however, did not appreciate moving as much. He wasn't the most popular pony in junior high, but he had a few friends who would be staying at Canterlot High. Friends he didn't like leaving. Tempo tries to avoid conflict though, and doesn't say anything to his mother, as he reasons that he can always come back and visit on a break, or even chat online or over the phone. The young stallion sits back on his haunches, watching the large earth ponies carry furniture into the two story house. Tempo found himself surprised at the size of the house. He knew that Great-Great Grandma Tavi had some money, but she did say "humble home." This was just slightly more than humble, in Tempo's opinion. The house was two stories, not including the basement and attic, and was only a little bit bigger than the other homes in the neighborhood, but still big enough to be noticeably bigger. Tempo's eyes returned to the earth ponies taking things from the chariot, waiting patiently. He was waiting for something that Octavia had given to him when he'd gotten his cutie mark. He spotted the black case as a unicorn levitated it out of the vehicle. Tempo got to his hooves and trotted for it, taking it from the pile of furniture, boxes and other things that was starting to form. Balancing the large case on his back, Tempo took it into his room on the second floor and closed the door behind him. All of the boxes that went to his room were already in it, so it wouldn't bother the moving ponies. Tempo gently sets the case down and opens it. He looks at the cello held inside and smiles. No matter the situation, his cello would always make him smile. He thinks back to when Octavia first let him play it. He was just about to start grade school, and his mother and father had taken him to visit the old musician in the hospital. He watched as his mother played the cello pretty well. It wasn't her special talent, but she had learned, just has her father had. It was a family thing. When Tempo asked to try, his mother seemed hesitant at first, but Octavia approved. Even thought it was his first time and there was no real rhythm or form to what he played, he played beautifully, in a way. His mother called his name and he stopped playing. She pointed to his flank and he though, what about it? He looked down and gasped. His cutie mark was there. What's more is that it was the same as Octavia's treble clef, even in color. The old mare saw it and told him... He couldn't quite recall exactly what she'd said, but he remembered that she was very insistent about the cello being his and his alone from then on. After that, she got really tired and they went back home. His mind back in the present, Tempo lifted his cello out of its case. He stood it up and stood on his hind legs with it. He took the neck of the instrument and its bow in his fetlocks and began to glide the bow across the strings, creating a beautiful sound. He played randomly at the beginning, but then he transitioned into an Octavia original. He's had years to memorize and practice many of his family's compositions, so he sounded great. His mother smiled, thinking just that, as she walked into her son's room. "Are you upset about something?" "Why would you ask that, mother?" Tempo answered. Metronome entered the room further as Tempo continued to play. "You always play your cello when you're upset. The fact that you went straight to it as soon as we arrived concerns me." Tempo stopped playing. What he wants to say is that he never wanted to move in the first place, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that. Instead he came up with another reasonable reason as to why he would be upset. "Couldn't we have moved on Friday? Or even Saturday? I just don't like that I don't have even a whole day to settle in before going back to school." Metronome sympathized with her son, as she went directly to work tomorrow as well. She stepped closer to Tempo, placed a hoof on his shoulder and said, "Well, you have today. We'll unpack everything we don't immediately need tomorrow. You go take a look around town, or just sit in your room playing the cello. Whatever you want." That sounded like a good deal to Tempo. He set his cello and bow carefully back inside its case and closed it. He was almost out of his door when his mother called him back. "Here, take a few Bits. In case you see something fun. Be back before it gets dark." Tempo thanked his mother and left to explore Ponyville. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as he originally thought. Tempo found himself at the Appleseed Mall, downtown. He made his way to the various music stores in search of the new album of an up and coming unicorn violist he started listening to. He was surprised to find that they were all sold out. Maybe Viola's more famous than I thought, he thought to himself, exiting Scratch's Vinyl & CDs. He was deciding on a next move when his stomach answered for him. The food court was on the second floor of the building, so he started searching for an elevator or escalator. He noticed that there were more ponies here than there were since he entered that last store. Food can wait a few minutes longer, he thought as he started looking for the source of the commotion. What he found was unexpected indeed. She was there, in the center of the food court! He couldn't believe it. It was a special event local to Ponyville, so he'd never gotten word of it while he was in Canterlot. You had the chance to accompany Viola on th-- No way... On the cello! Tempo got excited. He had his first chance to play with someone famous! Well, not true. He'd played with his aunt before, and she was a famous pianist, but she was also family. While it counted, it wasn't exactly the same. What's more is that the event was in tribute to Octavia. This event had Tempo written all over it. But... Tempo couldn't bring himself to move towards the stage. He really wanted to, but he kept thinking, what if he messed up? He's played every one of Octavia's compositions a million times each perfectly, but what if the million and first time is the one where he messes up? And with so many ponies watching? No, he couldn't. He's practiced way to much. Besides, Great-Great Grandma Tavi would have wanted him to at least try, right? Finally his hoof started to rise, but stopped when someone else was selected from the crowd. Tempo released a breath he hadn't known he was holding in. He was relieved. He chose to leave the area before he was tempted again. He couldn't handle all that attention. He'd surely choke and make a mess of it. Maybe it was time to go home. He purchased an apple fritter and left the mall before the first performance ended. Now all he wanted to do was play his cello.