//------------------------------//
// Chorus 
// Story: A Fluttershy Love Song 
// by Baton Rouge 
//------------------------------//

Disclaimer, I own nothing but the story line, Baton, and this ice-cream…. Never mind, that’s gone now.
::Baton::
*sigh* Maybe I scared her away… Thought Baton as he sat outside the café while watching the sun hit its apex and begin to descend, he closed his eyes and began to listen. He heard the hustle and bustle of the small town, small conversations in the markets, birds singing in the trees and on the roofs. He heard pegasi going about their business, wings flapping in tempo with hooves stomping. Unbeknownst to the rest of the village, a song began, where wings and hooves kept time, doors and windows clanked, and closed. A wind chime began its own solo as a gust of wind signaled its entrance; it was joined by a few more. It reminded him of home. Not exactly though, this place was much softer and quieter than the big apple, New Horse City. Compared to that place, Ponyville was but a mere garage band to the big city’s orchestra of sound. I wonder if there is a school for music like the one I went to, Baton thought. He had fond memories of Manes College of Music Magic; the halls, symphonies, his friends. He heard Octavia had scored a gig in the Canterlot royal band. I wonder if she might have pull with the Princess, it’s a long shot, but it’s the reason I came here. Hmmm… I thought I heard that Orchestra moved to around here. I wonder if ol’ Orcy is doing ok. He listened as the merchants, who had been trying to embellish their sales pitches, began again. Their voices added a choir to the symphony, soon Baton allowed himself to get swept away. 
::Sweetie belle::
At the same time a pony that is usually found in a trio makes her way into town to find her friends. “Oooh! That Rarity makes me so mad sometimes. I was just trying to help her! I thought the dress looked ok with my alteration. Made it less stuck up! *sigh* I guess I'm still not going to be a designer like my sister… when will I find my special talent?” The white filly continued toward town, keeping an eye out for her friends. There was nothing unusual about the day, Rainbow Dash still hadn’t completely cleared the sky, Twilight was going to buy MORE quills and parchment, and Applejack was selling apples (although she didn’t look as happy as she usually does and if one looked close enough they could see past the fake smile.) Sweetie belle continued toward Sugar Cube Corner. Maybe Scootaloo is getting a snack before her daily search for Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle turned the corner that led to the street on which the confection shop was located and spotted something different. There, at the café, was a strange stallion. The stallion was white except for his nose and hooves, his curly brown hair shifted with the breeze. But the curious thing was… his eyes were closed. He just sat there smiling to himself as if he could hear something she couldn’t. Curiosity got the better of the pink and purple haired filly so she decided to go confront him. She trotted over and waited, expecting him to notice that there was now someone sitting right in front of him. Yet he didn’t stir. Is he ok? Maybe he is just a little slow. I wonder if he’s related to Derpy. *cough* Still nothing. “Um…. Sir? Excuse me, sir?” The stallion slowly opened his eyes causing Sweetie belle to gasp. The stallion had eyes of deep blue that seemed to never end.
“Yeees? How can I help you today? “Asked the strange stallion in a deep baritone.
“Oh, well I was just wondering what you were doing.”
“Well, I was listening.”
“Listening? That’s it? What’s there to listen to?” The stallion let forth a loud chuckle that seemed to reverberate off the air itself.
“What’s there to listen to?!? Why, there is music to listen to, there is music everywhere! Why don’t you try it with me?” The filly tilted her head in confusion but decided to go along. She closed her eyes but all she could hear was chaos. Nothing going together, just noise.
“I don’t hear music, just noise. It’s chaotic.” The stallion smirked, expecting this answer.
“Keep trying, let me help you.” With that, he too closed his eyes. The horn atop his head glowed with black energy and to Sweetie belle, all was quiet. “What happened!?!? Where did the sound go?” “Don’t worry little one, just listen.” So she did. It started soft, a single beat, simple but strong. Next came more beats, all the same yet running along each other, like a heard of ponies weaving within themselves, it reminded her of the running of the leaves. Then came a lone note, it came with the wind, like a gust rushing through tall grass, whistling in harmony with each other. Sweetie belle began to recognize sounds. A flap of a wing here, the sound of a bell there, a drop of water, a window closing, even her heart kept time. The more she heard, the closer she listened. She immersed herself in the pure music, it was life, it was love, and it was beauty. Eventually, as hard as she tried, it fell away, back into chaos. She opened her eyes and noticed that she was crying, but they weren’t tears of sadness, but joy. She looked to the mysterious stallion and said with a smile.
“Thank you. How long was I listening?”
“Hmmm…. I’d say about… a minuet.” The filly was shocked! She felt as if she was listening for hours! She looked up and saw the sun had not moved since she got into town. She turned back to the stallion.
“Who….Who are you?” 
The stallion chuckled.
“I better get used to that. I, my little filly am...”
“Baton…” Baton looked behind him and saw just the pony he was waiting for. His face lit up when he saw the pink maned, tender Pegasus. She wasn’t alone though; behind her was a blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane looking inquisitively at the newcomer. 
“I'm glad you made it Fluttershy.”