A mare walked past the entrance of a big building, her coat light green colored, her dark mane ended in elegant curls, she was wearing sunglasses and a scarf to cover her identity. She approached an old mare on the reception who was writing in her notebook, at her side a sleeping cat.
“Hello Bright Dreams, how have you been?” the young mare said while smiling at the old mare who slowly lifted her wrinkly face from the papers.
The old mare smiled at the visit and said in a slow fashion, “oh my, how lovely of you to visit, little Coloratura, you came to see Mr. Moon if I’m not mistaken.”
Coloratura nodded giggling a bit, “you keep calling me little, I hadn’t been little in years Bright Dreams.”
“You will always be Little Coloratura for me dear, I’ve known you since you were smaller than Mr. Bubbles,” Bright said while patting the cat’s head who purred at his owner, “anyway, he should be in his classroom, his class should be about to end in a few minutes, you know the way I believe.”
Coloratura nodded and walked inside the building, she could see many rooms with foals of different ages, some were sculpting, some others painting, and others playing instruments, she reached a door where a pinto stallion was talking to his students, his coat showed patches of black and white, the foals paid attention at their teacher who was telling them a story.
At that moment the bell rang and a unison of disappointed ‘awwws’ came from the foals in the classroom, the Stallion laughed and shook his head, “don’t worry children, I’ll finish that story next time, see you next weekend.”
The students picked up their stuff and walked to the door, a young colt approached the teacher, “when I grow up, I wanna be like you Mr. Moon.”
The teacher rubbed the colt’s head with a hoof, “I’m glad you think that way Cookie, but remember, be happy to be alive and be happy to be who you are,” the colt smiled and continued walking to join his friends, he then looked at the door where a disguised Coloratura was staring at him, his smile grew when she approached and gave him a hug, “Coloratura sweetie, I’m glad you came, or is it only Rara now?”
“I prefer Rara now, but it doesn’t really matter for you… OH! And I’m sorry I’m a week late, happy birthday uncle,” Coloratura grabbed a box from her saddlebags, presenting it to her uncle.
“Oh you shouldn’t have… is it a monkey?”
She laughed covering her mouth, “why every time I get you something, you ask if it’s a monkey?”
“I don’t know, sounds like something a big star like you might want to get,” they walked through the school passing the classrooms left and right.
“Aw come on, I’m not that big of a star, at least not anymore since I lost my manager.”
“Awful character that one sweetie, I warned you the moment I saw him.”
“I know, I know, but he was so convincing and to be fair he was really efficient... Anyway, sorry I couldn’t come last week, I promised a friend I’ll visit her.”
“Don’t worry about it, my students gave me a huge cake, I had to dance all night long to burn all that sugar,” Mr. Moon laughed out loud and Coloratura joined him, “oh and let me guess, was it Applesack from Ponytown?”
“Applejack from Ponyville uncle.”
“Oh why don’t you tell me about it,” they entered the teacher’s lounge and sat on a big couch.
“Okay, well it was last weekend...”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
Applejack, Coloratura and Rarity walked from the train station, Applejack was in the middle with Rara and Rarity on each side.
“Well Ah’ll be, it’s been way too long since you came Rara, feels nice just walkin’ and talkin’ together.”
“Yeah it feels nice just you, me, Rarity and the huge wall of bags Rarity is levitating between me and you.”
“Yeah Rares, Ah asked you if you wanted me t’carry some of those.”
The white unicorn was sweating over the strain of levitating all her and Coloratura's bags, she did her best to keep a straight face, “I don’t mind darling, I am a lady that loves to help,” she was holding but the weight was too much and she was getting tired.
Coloratura giggled understanding Rarity’s behavior, “you know Rarity, AJ already told me you are dating.”
“Oh did she?”
“Yeah, and don’t worry, I’m into stallions only.”
Rarity snapped and lost concentration of her magic making the bags fall on the ground, “Wa… wait, I mean, I don’t know what that has to do with anything, darling,” her face showed signs of embarrassment even if she tried to hide them.
“Come on Rares, you practically build a wall between Rara and me,” Applejack picked some of the bags to carry them while Coloratura picked some others and Rarity levitated the rest.
“I’m sorry Jackie, I might have read one too many novels where childhood friends end up together and you know, I tend to be a tiny little bit jealous.”
“A bit jealous? Ah have only seen somecreature more jealous than you and is Winona when Ah try to take away her favorite ball, ‘member two moons ago when Trenderhoof returned t’Ponyville? If you kept closer t’me just a little bit more, then Ah would have been wearin’ you like a jacket.”
Both Applejack and Coloratura laughed while Rarity’s face was as red as a tomato, she pulled down Applejack’s hat to cover her face, the apple farmer lifted her hat still smiling, watching Rarity pout like a little foal, she giggled a bit more and gave her girlfriend a kiss on the cheek, at which the unicorn couldn’t keep her pout and smiled.
“I knew you would end up together since the first time I came to Ponyville, I couldn’t help but notice how Rarity kept stealing glances at you Applejack while I was freaking out when she was doing my mane.”
“Really? Well Ah be! Ah guess we were both pretty blind those times.”
“Luckily we are no longer blind and we can see each other with new eyes,” Rarity nuzzled Applejack’s neck.
“Oh my gosh! You two are adorable!” the group finally reached the Friendship Castle where Coloratura will spend the few days she will stay in Ponyville, “and are you sure Princess Twilight or Starlight won’t mind if I stay?”
“Don’t worry about it Darling, Twilight wasn’t planning on coming for a while since she has been using all her spare time ‘training’ with Celestia and Luna about a project we will talk about later and Starlight said it was ok.”
“Heh 'sides, the castle has more rooms than there are apples in a tree, by the way, sorry we couldn’t stay in the farm, the house is getting remodeled t’change some rooms and to make it bigger since the family is getting bigger now.”
The group entered a room where Coloratura will stay, she put her bags on the bed, "so where is the rest of the family right now?"
Applejack put the bags she was carrying on the bed too, "Granny took Rainbow Dash to a two weeks outin' with the Golden Horseshoe Gals, somethin' 'bout scorin' this time, for some reason Trixie begged them to go as well, Ah guess she really wanted to go to Las Pegasus, Big Mac went with Sugar Belle t'her old village and finally Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle joined Scootaloo visitin' her parents in Shire Lanka, so they'll be gone for a while, mahself Ah'm stayin' in Rares' place until the renovation is done... or maybe even longer," she gave Rarity another kiss on the cheek.
“I think I’ll unpack later, what was that thing you wanted to show me?”
“Oh yeah, you’re gonna love it Rara, this is all about music after all.”
“Definitely darling, just one question, do you believe in aliens?”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“Aliens? You are kidding me, right sweetheart?” Mr. Moon asked while sipping from his coffee.
“No uncle, please wait until I finish the story, believe me your head will spin like crazy.”
“Alright, go on.”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
The trio walked into the studio where Starlight was waiting for them with the young Tinker Claw, Applejack and Rarity explained everything to her on the way there.
“Is this it? This is the weird alien machine?”
“Wait… you are… OH SWEET WHISKERS! You are Countess Coloratura, I can’t believe it!” the Abyssinian cried out looking at the guest, “I-I-I have all your tapes and even the singles you released after… well the Ponyville change you did on your image, I’m your biggest fan!”
“Oh… well… I’m glad um...”
“Cinker Tlaw, I mean Tinker Claw, my name is Tinker Claw,” the young feline stared at the star in front of him, his claws clawing at his own legs over the excitement.
“Ok, well nice to meet you Tinker, hoofsies!” She said while pulling her little seal and pressing it against Tinker’s cheek, who fainted, “he is cute, this is the first time I’ve seen an abyssinian.”
Starlight walked to Coloratura, she passed over Tinker carefully to not stomp him, “hi, I’m Starlight Glimmer, nice to meet you,” the unicorn extended her hoof which Coloratura shook.
“Nice to meet you too Starlight, I’ve heard about you.”
“Only good things I hope.”
“Not really, I’ve heard a few bad ones as well.”
Starlight raised an eyebrow and stared at the pop star, then both giggled, “I like her Applejack, when I finally conquer all of Equestria, she won’t be incarcerated like the rest of them,” everypony laughed at the joke and then moved to surround the music box, “I bet you were informed on how the music box works right?”
“Yep, I press the button and music comes out.”
“That’s pretty summarised but yeah, wanna give it a try?”
“I’ll be glad to,” Coloratura approached the music box and pressed the button, then a loud pop song began playing.
“Hey this doesn’t sound bad at all, but didn’t you say it would be translated? I can only hear mum mum mum mah.”
Starlight ignited her horn, “well the spell is active and I don’t feel anything malfunctioning, maybe they are just saying that.”
“Oh, finally some lyrics… but what do they mean by Texas, what in the name of the stars is a Texas?”
“Ah dunno, but Ah like the sound of it, Texas, Texas, sounds like somethin’ big if you ask me.”
Starlight grabbed a cookie from the tray and bit it, “fay! I fink… ” she swallowed “I think they are talking about poker, those sound like poker terms.”
Coloratura was intensively listening to the song, “yeah she just said it now, she’’s got a poker face, but it sounds like she is using poker like an allegory to play with someone’s heart.”
“You are right, hey is it me or this sounds like something you would sing on your Countess Coloratura phase?”
“Yeah it sounds like something I would have sung, in fact before Svengallop left, we were planning on a new album with that theme, but… well you know what happened.”
“Have you heard about him, darling?”
“The last I heard is that he tried to steal that new group Monarch from their current manager, but he couldn’t.”
Starlight sipped on her cup of tea, “Monarch, we went to see that band a few moons ago, with Twilight, Spike and the girls, they are really nice.”
“I know right? I went to see them as well, they are amazing,” Coloratura clapped her hooves, “well this singer sure seems to be having fun with this song.”
“She sure sings like she’s got the best hand, darling… Jackie, do you know why they call the cards you are holding a hand?”
“No idea Rares, how ‘bout you Rara?” the pop star shook her head.
“I KNOW!” yelled Tinker now that he regained conscience, “card games including poker were invented on Laburinthos and they hold them with their hands, so that’s why they are called hands of cards.”
“Well that’s mighty interestin’ Tinker, thanks for the info,” Rarity grabbed a piece of cloth and cleaned some cookie crumbles from Applejack’s face.
Coloratura let out a d’aww “I can’t get over how cute you two are, almost makes me want to get a boyfriend myself.”
“I COULD BE YOUR BOYFRIEND!” the young feline yelled again startling the group.
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“Wait, did he just ask you out of the blue?” Mr. Moon said, almost choking on a donut he was eating.
“I know right? It hasn’t been the first time a fan just asks me out.”
“So what did you tell him?”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“Um… how old are you?” asked Coloratura.
“Too young,” came a strong voice from the door, Tube Tester walked directly to Tinker and patted him on the head.
“Mooom, please you are embarrassing me in front of the pop star.”
“Oh shut it boy and let me have this while you are still young,” the group giggled watching Tube Tester being smothered with pats and caresses, “so, you are the celebrity I’ve heard on the market just came in today? Pleasure to meet you, I’m Tube Tester.”
“The pleasure is all mine, let me guess, you were invited to study this alien music box.”
“We got a sharp one here, how did you guess that?”
“Well, Alien tech must be pretty advanced, who else better than a Minotaur engineer to study it.”
“Nice deduction skills girl, I might let you marry my son after all… when he is old enough of course.”
“MOM!!”
“Um… sorry but… I have nothing against abyssinians but… I prefer males closer to my age,” Coloratura blushed, embarrassed for Tube’s comment.
Tube let out a loud laugh, “I’m just messing with you girl, it is so easy to mess with you ponies.”
“Come on Tube, stop messin’ with mah friend, hey Ah think we still have time for another song, what do y'all think?”
“Sorry Applejack, I’m actually busy at the moment, boy when you are done meet me at the lab, I want to discuss the prototype to transfer the data from the music box,” Tinker saluted his mom and she left the room.
“I don’t think she’s ever stayed for a music box session, is there something wrong with her, Tinker?”
“I don’t think so, but maybe because of that song it played when she pressed the button the first time, I’m sure she will do it again when she is ready… so that being said, can I press it now? It’s been ages since I did.”
“Sure Tinker, knock yourself out.”
The cat boy pressed the button and a sweet melody began playing.
“That tune sounds magical,” Coloratura said while putting her hooves on her cheeks.
“It sounds mighty pretty, sugarcube.”
“Is that a child talking, darling?”
Starlight listened to the music box, “it seems that way, and the message is beautiful, to make a better world for our children and our children’s children.”
“Oh my stars, darling, his voice is beautiful.”
“His voice is more magical than the tune.”
Coloratura stared at the music box, her mouth open listening to the majestic voice of the alien singer, “he sounds… like a perfect mix of innocence and strength,” the group stared at Coloratura and nodded in agreement.
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“Was that alien really that good?”
“So now you believe me?”
“Well I don’t know yet, sweetie.”
“You will believe me.”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“What a beautiful message, sugarcube, this alien sounds like somepony that really loved everythin’ with all his heart.”
“Maybe he did love everything, perhaps as much as I love you, Jackie,” this made Applejack blush.
Everypony d’awwn while Tinker rolled his eyes, “well still I don’t think it’s my type of music, so I guess I should go check what my mom wants help with,” Tinker Claw left the room in the middle of the song.
Coloratura smiled listening to the beautiful song, “Just by judging this song, you could say that this alien was a good loving soul, I wish I could’ve met him.”
“Hey Starlight, now that Ah think ‘bout it, ain’t that the same singer than the song we listened on Nightmare Night?”
“I think you are correct, in fact I think we have heard him in other songs as well, including a few the CMC ‘secretly’ listened behind our backs, but those were really different, this singer is really multi-faceted.”
“Hey Starlight, could there be a chance I could get a copy of those songs?”
“Sure Coloratura, that won’t be a problem.”
“Oh please, just Rara is okay.”
“Alright, I’ll get them ready right away.”
Rarity stood up, levitating the dishes to take them to the kitchen now that the song was over, “darling, such a beautiful song with a beautiful message, reminds me of all those kind souls that help the less fortunate.”
Coloratura helped with some of the dishes, “reminds me of my uncle, he with some of his friends opened a school of arts on a very poor town a few decades ago, now it has grown and the town grew as well into a prosperous city, I believe Songbird Serenade once took clases in it.”
Rarity placed the dishes on the sink while she began washing them and applejack dried them, “wow, your uncle seems like a kind soul as well, is he the headstallion?”
“Nah, he decided that he wanted to teach, he is not that good at management but he is an amazing teacher, he taught me how to sing and a bit of dancing, but I’m not as good as him . Today is his birthday, I was planning on visiting him next weekend but I need to find the right present.”
“Darling, don’t worry about it, I’ll prepare something he will really like, tell me more about him.”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
“And then we spent the next few days enjoying ourselves and then I came here on the last train.” Coloratura said as they were walking to Mr. Moon’s house, a medium sized and cozy wooden cabin with a huge garden at the edge of town.
“What a lovely story sweetie, I’m not sure if I believe in aliens, but if you believe I guess I can be more open minded,” they entered the house and a nice aroma invaded their nostrils, “mmMMMmm, do I smell quesadillas, honey?”
“Oh you came back, I was worried the quesadillas will get cold, oh and you brought Coloratura, hi sweetie,” a cream colored unicorn mare said.
“Hi aunt Song,” both mares shared a hug.
The older mare gave Mr. Moon a kiss, “you won’t guess who came to visit, love.”
“A monkey?” both mares laughed.
“No dad is us,” a masculine voice came from the kitchen, a unicorn stallion with a kind smile talked, at his side there was a younger mare and an even younger stallion.
“My babies, come here you three,” Mr. Moon hugged them.
One of them groaned in protest, “come on dad, I’m the youngest and I’m twenty three already, we are no longer babies.”
“You will always be babies for me, junior,” he let go of the trio “I’m so happy to see you three.”
His daughter pulled a box from her saddleback and gave it to her father, “here daddy, sorry we are a week late, oh hi Rara! How is my favorite cousin doing?.”
“I’m your only cousin Sugar Steps, and I’m doing fine, I see you guys also got a little late for uncle Moon’s birthday.”
“Yeah, we got our hooves tangled with jobs and families but we are here now.”
“But you are here now and that’s what matters,” Mr. Moon said carrying both boxes on his back, “now let’s get to the table, I’m starving guys.”
~♥~♦~♣~♠~
After the dinner was over, Mr. Moon’s two sons and daughter went to their rooms to talk and sleep while his wife was washing the dishes. Mr. Moon was in the living room with the two boxes he received for his late birthday, he was listening to the cartridge Coloratura brought him with the songs of that alien.
Coloratura slowly walked to him, “two bits for your thoughts.”
“I still wonder if there is a monkey in one of this boxes.”
“Again with the monkey, I see you are listening to the alien, his voice kinda reminded me of you.”
“A little bit yeah.”
“Uncle, I know that you were completely against me becoming a star when I was a foal, even if I was really good, because you want me to have a full childhood and all, but… why did you never try to become a famous singer? You are by far better than anypony who calls themself a pop star, hay you are a million times better than me.”
“Well sweetie, when I was a foal my dad insisted that I become a celebrity for my voice and moves, but something inside myself told me that I would have regretted it, so I never did, sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong choice, but then I watch my beautiful wife, my wonderful children and all the foals I help on the arts school, I now know that I wouldn’t change them for nothing, not even all the fame and wealth in Equestria”
“I see what you mean, but it is nice to think what could have been if you did, imagine huge posters with your picture and your name in all the newspapers, another huge hit by the greatest pop star in history Moon Walker! You could even appear in a movie.”
“Yeah I know, but then again, I could lose all my privacy, the only eyes I want on me all the time are my wife’s.”
“If you say so, uncle, I’ll go wash my teeth and get to bed, good night.”
Coloratura left the living room, Moon Walker opened his children gift and it was a nice white fedora, he put it on and fit perfectly, he then opened Coloratura’s gift and it was a set of white socks encrusted with tiny diamonds that shined on the pale light from the fire.
He put only one on his left forehoof and fit perfectly and by the looks of it, it was made with material so he won’t slip while dancing, “how thoughtful of you Coloratura,” he gave a few testing steps, then gave a few swirls and spins, “nice,” he began doing a few more complicated dance moves, “woo” he moved with more energy than a foal, his hooves moving from side to side, “shamone” he gave a fast spin, ending on his back hooves, the forehoof where the shiny sock was in the air and the other tipped his hat, “HEE HEE... this is it.”
To be continued