Rusty, Pane and I, after showing our tickets to the usher, take the seats we paid for. Luckily for us, we’re in the front row of the auditorium.
While I wait for the performer, I notice that the room is relatively chatty. Not deafeningly chatty, but enough to need a relatively higher volume to speak to Rusty and Pane should any of us have any questions.
After a few minutes, cheering starts and the right of the stage curtain folds out to make way for the familiar unicorn I had met through a game of Canasta: Tempo Quill. What he’s floating are two guitar picks, four fret holders, and a mobile capo.
Then he starts playing the guitar, prompting the crowd to fall silent from the cheering.
“Hello everyone. I figured that since tomorrow’s the new year, I’d reflect with you all and smile at the result of our recent events, starting with this song I wrote.”
Nutamona rotana lecan Hales Walemin?
Nota leya pere mona tahoto hi Windigo ro din?
Leya nota norata te za ga za rudar ro.
I vo ni nat deyo va curedo orinoda rudero.
Te liru diha, sotefala i yucoya le yote.
Uhedo le hin dega liruho; leyu "alada rote".
Te hi For Feri Peres ho Mehinhatan Tahim,
Hi mona peyuda nat leya dalama ga nihan rim.
Un uhedo le lona tereyo ho fu peyuda.
I hoya te za cinamur le tarolur ilabeda.
Te liru diha, sotefala i yucoya le yote.
Uhedo le hin dega liruho; leyu "alada rote".
Te liru diha, sotefala i yucoya le yote.
Uhedo le hin dega liruho; leyu "alada rote".
Tempo Quill’s performance is backed up by the second half of the first verse by two flutists, who are also unicorns, as well as a bass player who is a pegasus, picking up at the chorus. As the song finishes, the crowd starts to cheer again.
“Thanks everyone. Happy new year!”
The cheering amplifies.
Meanwhile, Rusty wraps his wing around my back.
“I think he was talking about you,” he whispers, prompting me to nod. I mean, I couldn’t tell by him talking my language and actually pretty well for a musical unicorn.
Tempo Quill walks behind the stage, never to be seen for another minute and a half. Within a bit of time into the rising chatter, I hear the door to the right from behind the audience open. The pony responsible was the galloping performer himself.
“Tempo Quill!!!” I call out.
He approaches me, skidding to a stop.
“Thanks for the music! I didn’t know you spoke like a changeling!”
“Alada, vo ni dalamu mona. I’m still not that great at proper cognates after all these years.”
“I don’t think it's anything to worry about. I’ve been rusty myself on Lingo. What matters is that you can sing like that. I loved it, and I’m glad you’ve found good in changelings way back when you were a foal.”
“Aww. Thanks. Say, after I’m finished here, I’m gonna get going home. I wanna invite you and your friends over.”
Pane suddenly gets up from her seat.
“Wait, what? You want us to come with you to Manehattan?!?”
Rusty pleasantly approaches Tempo Quill.
“Well, Tempo, I haven’t visited Manehattan in a good while.”
“And neither have Pane or I. I’d be up for it.”
“Me too,” Pane adds.
Rusty raises his hoof.
“And so would I.”
;=;
So as it turns out, Tempo Quill is situated similar to us, only in Manehattan instead of Las Pegasus. But his house is relatively large compared to Rusty’s or Pane’s. Rusty Flashlight may also have a second floor, but there’s not nearly as much to explore, and Tempo’s has the same space upstairs as downstairs.
Now with me, Rusty, and Pane having toured the house, while some necessities lie downstairs like the kitchen and the bathroom, all the bedrooms are upstairs.
So that leads me to what always happens right after a trip across Equestria.
Tempo Quill has us stay in the guest room, which has two twin beds and a clear bin of towels and blankets, for the night.
I start into the room by taking out the blankets and giving them to Rusty and Pane. I then take out the towels and set them on the floor, next to where Rusty chooses to sleep.
“So, what do you think?”
Rusty and Pane blink.
“About?”
“Getting to stay with a musician?”
“Oh, well I’m glad Tempo Quill is nice enough to let us all stay here. Surely you must be glad that Equestria isn’t entirely guilty of looking down on the changelings in the past.”
“Um, Pane, that’s low hanging love you just gave Carve right there.”
“You realize that you just did that for me, right Rusty? And yes, Pane. I’ve known that since I met Rusty. And-”
Something comes to me head suddenly, prompting me to gasp.
“THE NEW YEAR!!! There’s going to be a ball-drop here in Manehattan, right?!?”
“Well, yeah. It’s sort of the biggest one in Equestria,” Rusty answers.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
As I race out of the room, Pane levitates me in place.
“Whoa there, Carve. It’s already getting dark out. Rusty and I will be able to see it, but you seeing it will twist sleep your schedule more than it’s already been.”
“Pane, we live pretty far south, far enough that will extend day by an hour or two when compared to this. And like you just said, I have a pretty late sleep schedule. I can stay up LONG after dark at the moment. I don’t see why I can’t see the ball drop without you guys.”
Tempo Quill peaks out of his room and sees me.
“Well I’m glad you’re eager to join your friends. That’s what friends are supposed to do: spend time with each other. Just make sure to keep this between the four of us, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Tempo Quill,” I respond. “At least that leaves me with a few hours of free time.”
“Say, Carve, you know how Equestria is friends with the changeling kingdom?”
I nod at Tempo Quill.
“Yes.”
“I was thinking maybe I could provide some detail on it.”
I gasp in excitement of an idea that springs to mind.
“Hey! I can help you with that! Let’s go to your room."