//------------------------------// // 4 The Performance // Story: A Night at the Opera // by Bronyxy //------------------------------// As the audience arrived, each presented their ticket and Rarity refunded them the cost from the money that Pavatrotti’s manager had paid her, in accordance with the singer’s wishes. Faced with such unexpected upheaval, the orchestra and the stage hands coped admirably, and although it couldn’t be said that the show started on time, it wasn’t excessively late either. Nopony complained about the delay; they all had free tickets and there was a certain novelty to the idea of open air opera, especially in downtown Manehattan. Having sacked his manager, Pavatrotti called upon Rarity to see if she would be prepared to introduce him onto the stage. She accepted, of course; the opportunity to introduce the greatest living opera singer in Equestria in front of the Manehattan elite being a once in a lifetime opportunity. The legendry singer reeled off a succession of the famous and popular songs from his plentiful repertoire and found that he thrived on the informal atmosphere, so many of his concerns having been down to nerves and the pressure he had been put under by his now ex-manager. Having finally had the weight lifted from him, he would recount later that his performance had been more akin to singing in the shower, such was the relaxed state of mind he had achieved. The concert was flawless and as the evening drew on and the performance built towards its climax, Rarity who was sitting with Fluttershy in what passed for a Royal Box at the side of the stage heard the familiar opening bars to the duet from La Falabella. She looked around to see where the soprano could be and saw to her surprise that Pavatrotti held a forehoof outstretched towards her. Instinctively she drew forward and climbed onto the stage at his invitation as the audience erupted in applause. Some may have heard her sing before, but most hadn’t, and although she regretted not having had the opportunity to rehearse, she knew the part so well it was second nature. He sang his lines and then she joined in, her pitch perfect timbre soaring above and yet mixing perfectly with his to create a subtle harmony that the composer would have dreamed of hearing from only the best performers. As the song reached its climax, both ponies playing a couple declaring their undying love stared into each other’s eyes and delivered the last few lines together; the gleam in their eyes adding a dimension of genuine attraction that was not entirely for the audience’s benefit. For a moment it was just them and the song with the orchestra providing the tonal depth to support the promise of their union; him a handsome and powerful stallion, her a beautiful and devoted mare. It wasn’t just the two of them who were caught up in the moment, but the audience too, mares and stallions alike crying openly at the beauty of their love. When the song ended, they held hooves and shared their bows to receive the standing ovation together as the stage became littered with roses thrown by the adoring fans. In the sanctity of the Royal Box, Fluttershy joined in with her loudest “YAY!”, and then felt her cutie mark begin to glow in acknowledgement of a job well done. As she watched, she could see Rarity’s blue diamonds glowing in the same way, their mission complete.