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A pianist from Earth is home on a lonely Saturday, getting ready to enjoy his weekend, when he is suddenly summoned to Equestria - only to find himself being held captive by The Great and Powerful Trixie, who plans to use him as a piano-playing slave in her show.
If you came here looking for the sequel, 'The Piano Man: Act II', it can be found here.
Well, at least they're on what appears to be the same level for negotiations.
She needs someone to play the piano, which he won't do unless he goes all soft in the heart and the head after a sob story about living out of the trash. And she can't hurt him or he won't/can't play the piano.
He will want to go home, which probably won't happen until after so long or it's not even on the table, or he'll need food/shelter unless he can get someone else's attention.
Of course this all is moot if the summoning has a control/obey aspect, which it doesn't appear to have so far.
So.... up in the air on how this is going to play out.
Alright, you've got my attention.
Woah, Trixie! You do not just beat up a musician who can play and sing a Billy Joel song! That's like dropping a nuke on an orphanage, you just don't do it!
Also, Favorited and I shall continue to watch...
Also, in the words of a song by Justin Timberlake (though it doesn't real fit with the theme, I believe the message sticks): "What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes back around, yeah..."
In other words, Trixie's about to get the good 'ole 'karma' boot to the face.
I'm usually put off when the person is aware of MLP. It kind of takes away the wonderment if they already know everything about the world they're in. But this has a really interesting premise and I can't right now predict where it will go so I'm watching it.
>>826924 I don't like to lead my readers on, so I'll tell you now that there is no even footing to this scenario. Trixie wants something, and she's taking it. I thought that the display of picking our main character up and dropping him on his face would point that out.
And trust me - she can hurt him.
>>827449 Eh. Sorry about that.
>>827841 Having the main character MLP aware allows for some interesting dialogue, and it gives a plausible reason why he doesn't just go insane from the mere sight of a talking pony.
>>827866 When pain is associated, I'm sure the fact that he's in MLP won't matter.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Remember, I'm juggling two stories at once, and this is the one with bigger chapter sizes. A very poorly thought out decision right there, but anyway: I'll see if I can update every three days or so.
EDIT: Sorry to everyone who were expecting Billy Joel.
EDIT 2: Egads, The Piano Man is 12th on the Popular stories list! Awesome!
>>828448 Actually, thanks for reminding me to go onto the chat and ask around for suggestions.
Although, as for Only the Good Die Young; I'm mostly choosing sadder music for this. As a bonus, whenever the MC is playing a piece, I will provide a link to the song so that readers can listen while they read. I'll go into more detail with an authors note in a future chapter.
First, let me say that of her ability to hurt him, there is no question.
It is simply that being called a fraud would press anyone's temper, and adding onto that the humiliation and lasting ramifications of "that" incident.
Well... I think I could excuse her for that.
And as for negotiation:
She needs him to play the piano, something that requires dexterity and fine motor control.
Something he won't have if she injures him too much, making this whole endeavor useless.
Also, should she abuse him, what's to stop him from seeking help at the first opportunity such as trying to escape, screaming for help, or telling the audience or others of his plight. Perhaps even yelling for police or guard.
And if all that weren't enough, what's to stop him from simply refusing to play if she abuses him.
Obviously she's not going to send him back, or it won't be possible to send him back.
Either way, a return home isn't even brought to the table.
"A city is built of brick, Pharaoh. The strong make many, the starving make few. The dead make none."
Somewhat appropriate I believe.
>>828627 I don't really want to give too much away, but I will point out that in this story Trixie isn't completely inept at magic. I haven't fully decided on every last detail of how Trixie's going to keep the MC is check...
But have you ever considered that Everypony won't be scrambling to help?
Yes, the thought has crossed my mind.
And there are any number of reasons why they wouldn't.
1.) Humans are a myth, there's no way he's real. A pony in disguise, a puppet, or he's entirely an illusion.
2.) It's all part of the act.
3.) They don't care.
4.) Summons are considered beneath them, and can be treated however the summoner decides.
5.) Bystander Effect
6.) He's faking.
And etc.
Of course, this is all speculation. Just me trying to predict what might happen or figure out the reasons why they do.
You're the author and you decide where it goes. I still want to read it anyways.
Author's Note:
Okay, a shorter chapter today. It's basically an info-dump explaining how Trixie's going to be doing things. I'm just setting up for the rest of the story.
I think I caught any mistakes. Feel free (as always) to point them out so that I can fix them.
(By the way, I don't get why so many people insist on the idea of Trixie speaking in 3rd person ALL THE TIME. I disagree with the idea. *shrug* It just seems unlikely to me)
Writing as Trixie is kinda fun. There's a little elbow-room with her personality because she only appeared in one episode, and only showed one defining characteristic. Because there's no way ANYONE can be dominated by a single characteristic, I can have some fun with her personality.
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The Regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin
He says, "Son, can you play me a memory
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes."
La la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feelin' alright
Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me."
As the smile ran away from his face
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"
Oh, la la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum
And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better than drinkin' alone
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you got us feeling alright
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably will be for life
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been comin' to see
To forget about life for a while
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"
Oh, la la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you got us feeling alright.
In my opinion, they should be. Taking an object from one dimension and placing it in another would exempt said object from the natural laws of the world he/she/it was summoned into. Granted, seeing as we as humans have yet to look beyond our current dimension (assuming there are physical dimensions with reverse worlds), it's all theory and speculation.
>>842297 Either that, or that object would have no natural immunity to - or a way to compensate for - forces unique to the new dimension - as what is happening now. (Say that Equestria was the fourth dimension, but instead of the fourth dimension being sideways movement in Space/time, it was something akin to what we would call magic.)
Yes, I know that is bad science. Either way, that's what I'm talking about.
However, magic would have unknown effects, and function differently on said object. Also, I too, am using bad Science and self-made theories.
...*throws Quantum Mechanics book at you*
That should over-load your brain while I spray-paint graffiti on your house :3.
However, magic would have unknown effects, and function differently on said object. Also, I too, am using bad Science and self-made theories.
...*throws Quantum Mechanics book at you*
That should over-load your brain while I spray-paint graffiti on your house :3.
Also, based on canon and what we know of Trixie, are you planning on giving us some back history for the reason WHY she would treat him in such a way? You don't just go 'slave-lord' because you need money and feel like it. Even the slave trade from several hundred years ago was due to race supremacy and such.
>>842487 Give me time. Of course there's a backstory to the way she's behaving - but it's a whole different matter on whether or not I can plausibly include it in the story. It's not like Trixie will just tell our victim, and our victim won't ask. Maybe if I write another part from Trixies' POV, then I can probably do something.
You've got something great going on here. I'm connecting with your main character and developing a sense of hatred for Trixie, which means the way your story is written is connecting with me emotionally. Not many stories do this, but it's fantastic. Can't wait to see where it goes.
Also +1 for being a fellow Billy Joel fan 
I was wondering how Trixie knew that humans have no magical protection, seeing as it is presumable that so little would be known about them in the first place. I suppose she must have figured it out while he was sleeping, which might explain her current behavior as she knows he can't fight back.
Either way, I feel sorry for the guy. I also feel sorry for Trixie, as she's simply digging herself deeper into the inevitable comeuppance she's going to get.
Ponies believe in Equality and friendship, so I doubt a majority would treat him as a pet. Granted, I would give Trixie hell trying to get into my mind, such as imagining very disturbing images in hopes that she'd leave me alone. That, or tell her I play a different instrument :3.
>>843946 Thanks. Remember, I don't update this as fast as I could, because I'm juggling two stories. (Worst idea ever. Seriously)
>>843985 Well, let's say that I'm writing this from a 'real life' perspective, and in real life, you don't understand everything that is happening around you. This allows me to hand-wave a few fine details like how Trixie understands this much about humans when they are considered a mythical creature and all their books are kept in the archives of Librarys, because our main character will never find out.
>>844807 Okay, I decided that the last chapter was enough of an info-dump that I shouldn't over-explain any more than I had, but there is more to Trixie's mind powers. Namely: She can't read thoughts, or see what the MC is thinking. I decided that would make the situation hopeless.
>>845041 ... 
>>850555 Uhh... Actually, it fits with how magic seems to work in the show. There's a difference between controlling the brain with magic, and literally seeing inside it. Unicorn magic has never been able to allow it's user to view another place, so why would it let them view someones thoughts?
Take the 'Want it need it' spell. It can influence everypony to REALLY want something, but no-pony has ever viewed another pony's thoughts.
(Also, my definition of 'control' is rather loose. The way I view it is that Trixie sends impulses to our MC's brain, which his body follows)
Author's Note:
Okay, so this chapter is a trial run for the idea of inserting links to whatever piano piece is being played by our 'hero'. I really don't have any recommended way of doing this, although listening to piano music for the later parts of the chapter can break the mood.
So... just do what you like best, and please leave feedback on the idea and the chapter - and of course, notify me of any spelling mistakes.
(Huh. This chapter's pretty short as well. That's a result of me trialing this music-link idea)
The first part of this chapter reminded me somewhat of this old cartoon. (In which you can see Death invent the CarmellDanson, if you pay attention.) Jeez, vomiting on the enemy? Is this guy part vulture or something?
Kinda hope the protagonist gives Trixie a few kicks in the ribs on the way out now.
I'm surprised he didn't try and belt Trixie over the head with the piano stool. We're humans, we can turn most anything into a weapon. Hell, if she pissed him off bad enough, detune and remove one of the high, unwound strings, wait for her to come into the cage again, then go Chicago prohibition with the piano wire.
After her immolating him, he's going to be pissed as anything. It's possible she'll break him with this, but I don't think it'll be enough.
We're in agreement here. Though I would recommend taking piano wire and slowly sawing off every single limb the bitch has and sealing the wounds so she won't bleed out. Then take her and leave the torturous wench in the Everfree for the animals to slowly chew on.
Don't worry. Everything has been planned out ahead. I'm not going to tell anyone if they've guessed or come close to what is going to happen, but I do want to put in this courtesy post saying that if something does happen that you've predicted, it's because I had already planned it. (I don't want anyone to think I've taken their ideas)
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One thing, though: I hope the fact that the topic of the fictional nature of the ponies does not get in the way of the rest of the story of this guy and his captivity. Still, definitely looking forward to more of this. 
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/Billy_Joel_Piano_Man_single.jpg/220px-Billy_Joel_Piano_Man_single.jpg
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