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// 2 The Voice 
// Story: A Night at the Opera 
// by Bronyxy 
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Having offloaded a collection of suitcases, trunks, valises and hand baggage, all but one of which was adorned with an elegantly scripted 'R' monogram, Rarity led Fluttershy off across Manehattan to catch up with Coco Pommel. She took a circuitous route, delving down streets that were old haunts, along with some others that she wished had been, revelling in the vibrant atmosphere so different from the quiet town where she lived.

Lured by the bright lights of Bridleway, they detoured past the famous named theatres where blockbuster shows were routinely presented to the adoring public. The two mares chatted happily as they recalled the personal performance of ‘Hinny of the Hills’ that Rarity had been able to swing for her friends following their kind acts of generosity towards her.

They walked on past the Whinney Gardens and the Harold Pinto, pausing to take in their latest productions, but stopped at the Saddlers Wells Theatre as they could hear the faintest sounds of a masterful operatic tenor in full flow. Interest piqued, Rarity allowed herself to drift into the foyer and started climbing the stairs to the auditorium when she was intercepted by the doorman.

“Sorry Madam” said the uniformed stallion with obvious disinterest “Rehearsals in progress. Can’t have you disrupting Mr Pavatrotti.”
“Luciano Pavatrotti?” gasped Rarity, awestruck “The greatest operatic tenor ever?”
“Yeah, that one” came the bored reply.
Rarity’s expression contorted into one of shock. Honestly, what was the theatre doing employing such a philistine?

Incredulous at the inability of the doorman to appreciate talent, Rarity lifted her head high and strode back out onto the street where her friend was waiting, but instead of leaving the venue, she worked her way round to the stage door. She found it easily as it had a big sign above stating STAGE DOOR, and noticed that it wasn’t quite shut, just by a fraction! It was one of those doors that could only be opened from the inside, so very carefully she set about prising it open, little bit at a time with a fine file that she just so happened to have with her. Shortly, her diligence paid off and she got a hoofhold, pulling it open.

“Um, Rarity” said Fluttershy quietly “Do you think you should be doing this?”
“It’ll be quite alright darling” said Rarity flashing her beautiful blue eyes “If they didn’t want me to come in, they would have kept the door closed wouldn’t they?”
“Um, Rarity” said Fluttershy hesitantly “I think it was closed.”
By the time she had finished speaking, Rarity was gone.

Inside was dark and surprisingly bare; every time she had been backstage as a performer, guest or even adoring fan it was always bustling and vibrant, so the emptiness and eeriness took her by surprise. She tiptoed through to the wings where she had a perfect view of the legendary tenor as he gave the most majestic rendition of “O Pony Mio”, sending shivers running all through her body. He was a truly magnificent performer and Rarity’s eyes were wide as she found herself mouthing along to the well-known lyrics and supplementing her silent performance with accentuated forehoof movements, getting into the spirit of the moment.

When the performance ended, it was all she could do not to break out into spontaneous applause and forced a forehoof over her mouth so she didn’t betray her presence. Even so, she still felt her legs going weak as the last chords died away amongst the empty seats. Then, as if the last song wasn’t enough, he launched into a famous duet from La Falabella. A practiced and consummate singer with the Pony Tones and an accomplished soprano in her own right, she couldn’t help herself as the cue came along for the female voice in the duet and she began to sing; her crisp clear notes counterpointing perfectly those from the famous tenor.

Suddenly Pavatrotti stopped.

Then the orchestra stopped.

Then Rarity stopped and walked out sheepishly from the wings.

“Ooopsie!” she said putting a forehoof to her mouth.

“Ooopsie indeed!” shouted a smartly suited stallion in the front row, rounding on her and turning a frightening shade of crimson “Who are you and how did you get in? This is not amateur night! We are rehearsing with the Luciano Pavatrotti!”

“Yes, I can see that” conceded Rarity apologetically, but then became a little more assertive “But the door was open and I, as a singer of some note, was drawn to the magnificence of Mr Pavatrotti’s voice. I was hoping to stay hidden and listen, but his rendition of the duet was so sublime I couldn’t help but respond.”

“Well now you can leave! Quickly and quietly!” demanded the stallion.
“Hold on now, please” interjected the calm voice of the famous tenor “This Lady sang beautifully, if only for a few bars. I for one should be delighted if she would stay for the rest of the rehearsal.”

“Well, I should not!” screamed the stallion “We cannot afford any more delays and this trespassing nopony will only interrupt further! She had already shown she cannot control herself! Need I remind you who is paying the bills?”
“Yes, but without me you have no show” persisted Pavatrotti calmly “And she does have a very nice voice. I should like her to stay.”

“No! This is your comeback and I will make sure it succeeds in spite of your current rather mediocre and lacklustre performance. Put frankly, you are not making the necessary effort and need to focus. That means no interruptions and no distractions!”
“I don’t want to do it anyway. I’m only here because of the pressure you put on me to do it.”
“Be that as it may, now you’re here you can’t back down. Think of all those loyal fans you would disappoint and how the value of your stock would tumble.”

Rarity stood next to the famous tenor as the war of words unfolded around her, verbal shots ricocheting as echoes around the auditorium. They had reached a stalemate.

“I’m very sorry Mr Pavatrotti” said Rarity “I should leave.”
“Please meet me in the foyer afterwards, would you?” invited the singer “I like you more than anypony I’ve met in a very long time.”
“The foyer it is then” said Rarity, and left the stage heading for the exit.

“Now, if we can continue …” shouted the irascible suited stallion.

The doorman stared in disbelief at Rarity as she daintily descended the very stairs that he had turned her away from only minutes earlier.
“What were you doing in there?” he demanded.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” she enquired innocently “I’m a friend of Mr Pavatrotti and he will be meeting me here once rehearsals are over.”
With no room to argue, the doorman offered her a seat and disappeared to nurse his wounded pride. How in Equestria had she got past him anyway?

“Oh, and one more thing darling” said Rarity batting her eyelids “Please would you invite a friend of mine to join me? She’s currently waiting by the stage door.”
Defeated, he walked off and did as he had been bidden, Fluttershy joining her in the foyer no more than two minutes later.

“What did you do Rarity?” asked her friend incredulous.
“Why, I just told him I am an old friend of Pavatrotti.”
“Is that him singing?”
“Yes darling” preened Rarity “And he will be meeting us as soon as rehearsals are finished.”

Not for the first time that day, Fluttershy was speechless.