So here we are. All caught up. With that in mind, I suppose it’s time to fill in what happened afterwards.
Well, waking up tethered to the side of the cage was very stressful. I’ll admit that I freaked out – considerably so, complete with thrashing and screaming. My wrists still haven’t really recovered from the wire cutting into them.
Trixie didn’t show her face for a good two days. Smart move. I was ready to rip my own arm off and use it to beat her to death.
I have been denied my last freedom, and she will never give me another opportunity to end it. To that effect, the piano is now located outside of my cage, well out of reach.
My neck throbs slightly, but Trixie’s removed the bruising and healed the damage to my trachea and the surrounding area. I suppose that if I have to keep living, at least I don’t have to put up with the pain either.
So all I could do for what felt like nearly 24 hours was lie in an odd position against the bars of the cage. When Trixie finally decided to grace me with her presence, the news she carried was more than a little startling.
We’re in Canterlot. Canterlot. More than that, we are actually in the royal palace. As it turns out, I was unconscious for close to a day, and left alone for a further day after that. In that time, Trixie moved us all the way to Canterlot.
The real shocker though, was finding out that we had been contracted by Celestia and Luna – for me to play an actual concert at the Grand Galloping Gala. I’m not providing ambient music for the guests; I’m playing a full fledged concert in the Royal Theatre Hall.
I would have killed for a chance like this on earth. Now I’m being forced into it, less than four days after I tried to ‘off myself’. Bravo, Trixie. How very inappropriate.
Honestly, I had no idea that the Grand Galloping Gala was coming up. I would have imagined that it should have taken place around the time of the Canterlot wedding episodes, same time as the year before it – that’s assuming that the Equestrian year functions the same as the world that created it.
On the topic of Earth and its relation to Equestria: I have no idea how that works anymore. Is Equestria the result of some alternate universe that came into existence when the show was created, or did Faust just get magical glimpses of it as ‘inspiration’? Honestly, I have no idea what to think any more.
I can hear Trixie coming. I think the wagon is in a chamber under the castle, or something, because I can hear Trixie coming a good fifteen seconds before she arrives. Hoofsteps sound so different to footsteps. They’re much louder, more chaotic, and much faster.
I miss hearing normal, standard footsteps. I miss a lot of things.
I twist my head around as Trixie opens the door to the wagon, tentatively stepping inside.
“What?” The venom in my tone produces a notable – and extremely satisfying – reaction from the mare, as she lowers her head slightly at the comment. I may not have managed to die, but it looks like some good came of my efforts. If only it had instilled enough guilt in this bitch for her to let me go.
Trixie composes herself, once more adopting her mask of indifference, which now seems laughable. I know she feels guilty, and I know she’s no longer comfortable with all this. Acting indifferent is the most redundant thing I’ve ever seen.
“The Gala starts in less than a day, and you will be performing.”
“Of course I will.” My voice is layered with loathing and hatred. “I don’t exactly have a say in what goes on lately. Did you notice?”
Trixie’s mask of indifference morphs into a frown. “You seem awfully active for one who recently attempted to take their own life.”
“You’re the one forcing me to live.” I spit back. “So why not enjoy it?” I layer the ‘enjoy’ with enough sarcasm for every ‘Condescending Wonka’ image ever created.
Trixie shakes her head. “Your situation could be much worse.”
“Of course it could. It could also be a lot better. Now why don’t you fuck off and let me prepare?”
Trixie shakes her head, this time more in disbelief. Maybe she’s having a nice little epiphany on how badly she’s treated me.
Oh, right. That will never happen, because that would require luck.
To my surprise, Trixie turns and leaves without a comeback, which is more than I ever expected. I can’t say that’s progress, because the goal that it would be progressing to is unreachable.
I can’t help but chuckle. This new Trixie is so different. I’ll have to ‘enjoy’ it while it lasts. I’m sure the surprise of finding me hanging from the roof will wear off soon, and then she’ll be back to… normal.
Ugh. There’s no such thing as normal any more. Not in a world of ponies.
***
Trixie has her game-face on when she comes back some time later. She's using the works, harsh voice and all.
I myself managed to get some sleep. I don’t feel overly refreshed – what with the restraints and all - but it’s better than nothing.
Trixie silently undoes the lengths of cable securing me to the cage bars, using her magic to make me stand.
I keep my eyes off of her as she herds me out of the cage, she herself only deigning to state a stout “It’s time.”
“Yeah. Of course it is.” I mutter back. “How long do I need to play?”
“An hour. And keep it interesting.” She commands, opening the door of the wagon ahead of me.
I was right about the wagon being in some sort of chamber. It looks to me like some sort of enclosed courtyard, with an arched glass roof. The idea that the princesses would set this aside solely for Trixie’s wagon is astounding. The wagon could have gone anywhere – unless for some reason it needs to be here.
Trixie takes point, leading me towards a small side-door in the courtyard, which opens onto an equally small side corridor.
We both remain silent as we follow the length of the corridor, which leads out into the backstage area of the Theatre Hall – which is somehow deserted, despite the fact that the show is going to start.
Before I have time to wonder why, Trixie ushers me out onto the main stage.
The stage itself is large - Extremely large, as to accommodate for the yearly performances by major theatre groups – and empty, save for one stark white grand piano sitting in the centre, positioned slightly forward so that the front rows of the audience wouldn't have their view obstructed by the lip of the stage.
Oh wow, a grand piano. Finally, after all this time, I finally get to play one. How wonderful. To think that a few days ago, I was constantly noting its absence from my performances.
Trixie seats me at the piano, which is impeccable and immaculate. Not a single blemish to be seen on its pearly cladding.
“The curtain is going up in three minutes.” She explains in a hushed tone. “Wait for the spotlight to come on, and then you play.”
“I’ve done this enough to know the process.” I mutter back “Let’s just get this over with so that I can go back to huddling in the corner.”
Trixie nods and walks away, leaving me to sit on the stage. Have we reached some sort of agreement? Unlikely. I'm just not being rational.
She heads backstage, to be met by a pair of stout and proper-looking unicorns, who immediately begin talking rapidly to her as they fall into step. It looks like the backstage crew have finally shown up, a whole two and a half minutes before curtain.
The muffled sounds of the audience engaging in idle chitchat drift through the thick curtains. I can’t imagine how many ponies there are in the audience. Hundreds? Surely not a full thousand.
The Princesses will be there – probably the Mane Six to boot. I could probably spot a few background ponies in the crowd as well, but by this point, I think I’m beyond playing a game of ‘Where’s Derpy?’. It's far too trivial for my situation.
The backstage lights dim, and the curtains slowly and silently slide open. I can understand the effect it creates. With the house-lights shining in the right direction, the opening of the curtains will be unnoticeable. Quite a melodramatic way to start out. Either way, I have a small amount of time before the house-lights shut off, and I do indeed use it to scan the audience.
There is a lot of them. I’d say close to six hundred ponies out there in the audience, packing the theatre full. It’s impossible to discern recognizable ponies from the sea of equines that rolls backwards and upwards like some multicolored quilt, so I instead turn my attention to the private boxes.
I can immediately spot Fancypants and Fleur De Lis, Prince Blueblood – all on his lonesome – and Hoity Toity with Photo Finish (An unexpected token pairing, I must say), all with their own private boxes on the left side of the theatre, but none of them are the ponies that I’m looking for.
I cast my eyes further towards the centre, searching for – oh, there they are.
One of the boxes is notably bigger than the others, positioned in the centre of the back wall. From my position, I have a perfect view inside.
They’re all there, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armour, and the Mane Six, chatting merrily while they wait for the show to start. What a wonderful turnout.
I scowl and shake my head, looking back down at the piano. Maybe Trixie will let me take a break after the Gala – or she might make me start working double. Probably the later.
The houselights finally dim, throwing the entire theatre into darkness.
After a few seconds, the chatter fully dies down, and the spotlight comes on, illuminating me in a brilliant and dramatic shaft. Less than a second later I feel Trixie’s presence in my mind, giving the usual command.
It’s time to start.
I don’t need to say that this is my first major concert, so I want to start out with a hard and attention grabbing piece.
With that in mind, I reach down the keys, and begin the rabidly fast piece by Nobuo Uematsu, ’J-E-N-O-V-A’
.
The crowd is silent, captivated by the sheer number of notes that a crowding the air, while I stare at the keys, my forehead creased in a scowl of concentration.
I can’t really put into words how I feel right now. The song is such an intense one... it feels like an outlet for my pent-up rage, although I don’t suppose that’s accurate. It would take a lot to exorcise all of the rage I’ve been dealing with.
The crowd sits, fully engrossed in my performance as I work my way through One Winged Angel, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto Number Two, and so many more.
By the time the hour is drawing to a close, I find myself struggling to think of a final piece.
I’m chewing up The Pirates of the Caribbean Theme, when I remember that Cadance is in the audience. She’s come to watch me slave away, so why not give her a little treat?
So I finish up the theme, and with that thought in mind start to gracefully work my way through This Day Aria. Maybe if I get lucky I’ll give her a heart attack.
As always, I play. I continue the piece through to the end, and then sit back, giving a tiny sigh as Trixie’s presence stops its constant application of pressure to my brain.
The house lights slowly come back on as my spotlight drastically drops in intensity, giving me the perfect opportunity to view the product of my handiwork.
I turn my head slowly and look out over the audience, feeling vaguely pleased and resentful as the audience starts to clap and stomp generously, their comments on my evolution made all the more irritating by their upper-class Canterlot accents.
Deciding to ignore them all – As I have realized is the best way to not fly into a rage at the entire situation – I cast my eyes up to the Royal Box, receiving the extremely pleasing image of both Twilight and Cadance staring down at me in shock.
My mouth twitches in the beginnings of an evil smile, but my sliver of happiness is cut off by the curtain, and the approach of Trixie.
“You shouldn’t have finished so softly.” The mare frowns at me as she forces me to my feet.
“Well, they seemed impressed.” I snap back. “And you can hardly call the third verse soft.”
Trixie’s frown degrades into a scowl as we start walking, and I can tell that I’m really starting to push her buttons. Now would be a good time to shut up, before I use up what little of her reluctance.
She continues to talk as we leave the stage – and I note that the backstage area is once again deserted.
“You’re going to wait in the cage. I have a lot of important ponies to talk to.”
“Fun-fun-fun.” I mutter as we emerge back into the courtyard. “God forbid that they’d want to talk to the actual musician.”
Trixie ignores my comment, herding me into the wagon and then the cage.
“You spend most of your time doing nothing.” She snipes at me. “I’m sure you can bear waiting for a little while.”
I have no retort, and simply lie down on my mattress, hoping that Trixie won’t tie me up again.
It is to my relief that she doesn’t, and simply leaves, slamming the door behind her.
I look across at where I had been bound to the side of the cage, noting that the four lengths of piano wire are still there. Not big enough to hang myself, but still long enough to strangle a certain pony.
Of course, I would never be able to manage that. The moment I tried Trixie would just seize control of my mind... possibly beat me...
I give a little sigh, looking down at my wrists. They’re bruised from my thrashing when I first freaked out over my restraints – I think they were even cut by the wire in a few spots. I wonder if anypony in the audience noticed.
A quiet curse escapes my mouth as I stand up, looking around the wagon. Why hasn’t Trixie ever increased the lighting in here? I still have to be in this crappy little pool of light, leaving the perimeter and far end of the wagon in darkness. What effect is that meant to have? Because it's not having any - save irritation.
I scuff at the floor. I suppose this is the height of my ‘career’. After this, I’ll probably be back to roving shows, and from there my popularity could simply decline. What will happen if it comes to that? Will Trixie just put me down? She’s been so unpredictable this whole time, I can’t really say that I know what she’d do.
My vague musings are suddenly interrupted by the sound of hoofsteps, announcing Trixie's return.
‘She’s back so soon?’ I turn around, fixing the darkened doorway with a steely glare as it opens – before I pause.
It isn’t Trixie.
Three shapes emerge from the darkness, each one approaching the little circle of light. I should have been able to tell that. The hoofsteps had been far too chaotic to have been caused by one pony.
“Wha…” I mutter under my breath, my angry stare faltering in confusion. I haven’t talked with a single pony but Trixie since I got here.
Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Princess Cadance step into the light, and I take a short breath.
“Wow.” Twilight glances at Cadance. “This is… It lives like this?”
“I have to say, it looks dreadful.” Rarity interjects, looking me up and down. “Look at those marks on the end of its arms!”
Cadance steps closer, peering at me. “I think Trixie has been abusing it…” She takes in my crooked nose, my wrists and my general malnourishment. “…Badly... but before we go tell the princesses, I want to find out how it knows… the song…” She looks me in the eye, clearly concerned and worried - although I think it's more over what I know than my condition.
While they continue to talk, I myself am rapidly boiling over. Every single time the word ‘It’ pops up, my fuse shortens by a considerable fraction more. It’s just wasting away to an inevitable detonation that threatens to strip the meat from these bitches' bones.
Rarity takes a closer look. “It doesn’t seem that dangerous… quite fragile, in fact.”
“Yeah.” Twilight joins the other two in their close examination of me. “It-”
My temper reaches breaking point, and I bound over to the bars, grasping them and shoving my face towards the three mares.
“IS THAT ALL I AM TO YOU?!” I scream. “A THING?!”
The rage has reached a peak I never thought possible. To think that these three could watch me play as a slave, and then have the nerve to come find me, and talk like I’m not even here. Isn’t my situation enough?
“Well FUCK you all!” I shout at the startled mares. “I didn’t ask for this! You are all monsters for what you've done to me! MONSTERS!”
My rage subsides, capped as I manage to not go off on a full-blown rant about the injustices I had been subjected to – or, to be more accurate, I don’t have a suitable sentence to continue my tirade.
I instead resort to turning my knuckles bone white as they grip the cage's bars, and glaring venomously at the my visitors, all of which are staring at me with looks of sheer horror.
The silence lasts for a further five seconds, before Twilight takes a step closer, her expression one of mortification.
“You can talk?!”
What did she just say? Did she just accuse me of being an animal?!
“OF COURSE I CAN FUCKING…” I trail off as what the lavender mare has said properly registers. “Of course… I…”
Did Twilight just accuse me of being and animal?
I fall silent, my rage flowing away as if someone has opened a floodgate in the back of my skull, and my face morphing into an expression of horror and disbelief that puts the other three to shame.
I stare at Twilight, my mouth forming countless silent obscenities as countless waves of crippling realisation wash over me.
I finally manage to open my mouth, voicing what is undoubtedly the general opinion in the room.
“Oh shit.”
Author's Note:
It's the chapter you've all been waiting for. I hope you like it.
So here we go! Things finally get REALLY interesting - and in the longest chapter yet, too!
Okay, so I know Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 contains quite a bit of orchestra to go with the piano, but it's such a nice piece that I just couldn't resist. I also know some people might be unhappy that I senselessly spammed all of those links, providing music that would take longer to listen to than it would to read the chapter, but really the only one that I would suggest listening to for story purposes is This Day Aria.
Oh, and sorry to 969404, for not using Beethoven's Third, but it was too amazingly over-complicated for the Piano Man to be able to play it without taking some practice time first. (And also, having him know how to play it would mean that this twenty year-old has some ungodly amazing piano skills)
So... opinions?
Awwwwww yeeeeah. Trixie is in so much trouble now. This is the payoff!
975242 Indeed it is.
Unfortunately, I have provided a view-count of all the chapters so far...
---
1: 945
2: 567
3: 469
4: 472
5: 379
6: 368
7: 308
8: 329
9: N/A
---
Is it just me, or did my view count stop AFTER I stopped providing senseless violence as the center-point of each chapter?
(Those numbers are from right before I submitted the new chapter. I wanted to see how many of the new viewers stuck with the story after chapter one. Of the extra 4 so far, three continued on to chapter 2)
Not bad, glad I stuck around.
Playing This Day Aria was an unplanned stroke of genius. I'd say that he should have done something like that before now, but Ponyville would have been the first chance to play a recognizable song and they only got there a couple of days ago. Canterlot was probably better anyway since it allowed him to pull a Princess in.
Trixie is in some serious shit now, there's no way she should be able to argue that she didn't know she was keeping him there against his will. Not to mention the beatings he will be able to testify about.
At last! Somepony other than Trixie finally talks to the human!
Now it's all smooth sailing from here on out. You know, a happy ending, right?
...right?
975251
Also: Playing This Day Aria wasn't a stroke of genius, so much as it was the Piano Man doing something spiteful, and having it REALLY pay off.
975259 Maybe, maybe not. We've got another chapter and an epilogue to get through. Who knows what could happen?
975262 Yeah, that's what I meant by unplanned. I'd like to think Twilight would have investigated anyway, but that was a good way to basically force her to do so.
About the lessening view counts, here is what I would suggest to have kept people reading. Maybe a vague comment or two in his narration about the mistake he made in assuming that ponies other than Trixie knew what was going on, or maybe some foreshadowing about either Canterlot or the Gala?
Mainly, there needs to be something in the story itself to indicate that it is worth sticking around, and not just in the comments. Preferably in the first chapter, that way when people click on it from the featured box they get pulled towards the end of the story from the very beginning.
975277 Whoops! I completely missed the word 'unplanned'.
Now... I have updated the story description, which should help, but I can't drop anything in the narrative, because the story was being narrated from an earlier point than this... In fact, we got all caught up to the real-time story at the beginning of this chapter, before the Piano Man learned the truth.
975248
dont worry. i plan on sticking this one to the end. im loving it
i gotta say, i love that you mentioned Nobuo Uematsu
he's made some of my favourite music from the FF games
975386 Indeed. He is an amazingly talented composer - and self taught! Truly admirable.
All of my yes. ALL OF IT.
Sweet, sweet Revenge with a capital R
I'm giddy with excitement!
Holy shit ! That was just amazing. Wasn't expecting that playing This Day Aria would work out so good. (oh, and him playing Nobuo Uematsu's work was a very nice touch)
However... I don't really understand what happened at the very end here. What sort of horrific realization about him being able to speak could have horrified him so much ? Did he just realize that HOLY SHIT TWILIT SPURKL RURTY CADANS GONNA SAVE MY BUTT or was it something else ?
yes trixie is busted i wish i would be there to punch trixie in her face until i cant fell my fist any more
Your are SO going down, Trixie.
All the way down to Hell.
Bravo on the choices of songs, and the 'light of hope' of the three new appearances.
You have really planned this out so well, Cloud. Good job and don't stop.
975197
Really like this chapter, like a lot to give it a measurable term, I like this a fuckton
And smart use of This Day Aria, I can honestly say I didn't see that coming, great way to get the characters introduced
Though Rarity with them seems like a third wheel, but then she may play a role next chapter
Also I can understand Piano Man not being able to play complicated songs without practice, but could magic help with that? just a deus ex machina for his musical abilities?
You know up until this chapter I've wanted to go to Equestria just so I can stab the poor guy to put him out of his misery considering what he's been through it would be mercy killing more than a murder. But now I just want to read the next chapter as soon as possible.
I wonder how that sudden outburst will help him.
Shame, let death come early for the poor sucker... atleast then he won't be suffering anymore
I kind of figured that Trixie would be downplaying his intelligence to the crowd, as enslaving a sentient being probably wouldn't fly well in Equestria. And believe it or not, I'm actually feeling sorry for Trixie at this point, because of how much trouble she's in. Though I believe a punishment is in order, such as, say, Trixie being stripped of her magic and being banished into the Human world.
975248
Psh, screw the view count, and submit it to EqD. Granted, Seth couldn't handle an 'evil' Trixie, and would go ballistic about it...
Also, possible mistake:
“Yeah. Of course it is.” I mutter back. “How long do I need to play?”
“An hour. And keep it interesting.” She commands, opening the door of the wagon ahead of me.”
You have an extra quotation mark after 'ahead of me.'
I know that Piano Man can't play this, but check out the Bangarang Piano version. That girl is AMAZING.
Not gonna lie the violence is what originally had me hooked. Some people couldn't stomach it but for me it was something different and I enjoyed it. How many authors that aren't trolls have the balls to write a cannon pony so vile? I do feel you kind of caved in into what people were saying in the comment section, but maybe you had always planned to tone down Trixie's benevolence. Anyway I've loved this story in its entirety and can't wait for the climax.
975511 I believe that he realized that none of the ponies knew that he could actually talk and behave like an intelligent being. Until now, they thought that he was something akin to a chimpanzee as opposed to a sentient creature.
I can just image the look on Trixie's face when he walks up behind her and sucker punches her
975511 Basically, he just realized that if everypony thought he was an animal, that he could have put Trixie out of business just by crying, or shouting, or doing something that was clearly intelligent and that Trixie wasn't compensating for.
975910 Thanks!
975966 Rarity is tagging along mostly on the grounds of her being a unicorn. I decided that having her there would slightly more depth to the scene, what with her flare for drama.
976401 Oh thanks! I will fix the error as soon as I can.
977112 I caved... In a way. I always intended to make Trixie get better later on, but I did it slightly harder than I planned to appease the Audience.
977370
I can understand that to add drama, would have expected either Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash though
At last I shall have my revenge...
978398 We shall beat Trixie to a pulp for her injustices. And we shall laugh while doing so.
FUCK YEAH!!!!! TRIXIE IS GOIN' DOWN!!!!!!!!
BURN THE WITCH!
i.imgur.com/MmJsD.gif
You should have made him cry. I cried when I read that particular part.
Pirates of the carribean theme :3
975248
It's just the way things work. Is why I'm now writing the entire story out, then submitting the entire thing at once.
975197
After coming back to listen to the Aria as a piano solo from the latest Act II chapter, I just had a thought. If he hadn't decided to troll Cadance, he could have played Winter Wrap-up... Although I just realized while typing this that, while it might have horrified a LOT more audience members, it would also be easier to explain away, given the fact that the entire town of Ponyville sang it, so only Twilight's solos would be hard to handwave (hoofwave?).
Do you know if there is a version? It might be part of therapy to eventually go back to the piano... (Spoilers, but you already know there's a sequel, so not really.)
975248
Well that's silly, since right now this chapter is at over 2,000 views. Patience is a virtue!
Excuse me...
"I at" what?
images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120804181740/gundam/images/f/f1/Rx-79g-ez8.png
"This man... Is a Gundam!"
"I can’t way that’s progress,"
say
and the pirates of the carribeen theme link is broken
Best chapter!
Just the idea to play 'This Day Aria' was brilliant! Also glad that he finally realizes that they didn't know that he was sapient!
(skip to 0:50)
Neat.