I could hear the music store before I could see it, I could feel the bass through the soles of my feet... despite the “shock protection” of the boots and bodysuit. When we stepped into sight of the store our progress was impeded by the sonic attack emanating from the storefront. Booths were set up on either side of the store selling... no RENTING ear protection for those wanting to cross in front of the shop.
Bracing ourselves against the music like a harsh wind we slowly pressed onto our destination, or rather I pushed myself. Lyra had created a magical barrier against the noise, from behind which her mane wasn't even being disturbed... Cheater.
I gave her a harsh look as she strolled casually towards the front door only for her to stop at the threshold and pull a crystal from inside the speaker, silencing the wubs of destruction. The ear protection booths packed up and started wheeling themselves away, grumbling about not meeting their quota. Lyra treats this like it’s completely normal and continues into the shop, her magic holding the door open for me to follow.
I was surprised by the inside of the shop, from the outside I had been expecting something like a record store, something similar to what I was used to just old fashioned with records instead of CD’s. Instead I was surprised with a genuine music shop.
Instruments lined the walls, and dominated the floorspace as well. A moderately sized table had several milk crates full of records but otherwise the store was nothing but an instrument nirvana. My eyes tried to drink it all in and identify all the instruments. I could see Lyre’, harpsichords, entire display cases of harmonicas and accordions, even what looked like a disassembled pipe organ on the side wall. The air was full of the sounds of a classical record, a string quartet playing gently in the background, a very odd contrast with the music outside.
Lyra walked right up to the door labeled “DJ’s Only” and started pounding on it with a hoof. I continued my walk until I discovered man’s greatest instrument ever... The Piano, complete with a bench. I could practically hear it begging me to play
Sitting down at it, I examined the keys, wondering just how a non-unicorn could possibly play it. The answer was pegs, the keys were almost twice the length of your standard or ‘human’ piano, pegs sat halfway down the keys. If I had to guess it was to create a method to play chords, a pony would only have to adjust where on the hoof the pegs would contact the horseshoe. I couldn't imagine a unicorn needing them but perhaps the telekinesis required to hit multiple keys was too complicated even for a pony with a cutie mark for playing piano. I resolved to ask Lyra later.
I ran my hands over the keys, my fingers sticking slightly thanks to the bodysuit gloves, removing the knuckle plates and gloves at the wrist I ran my fingers over the elongated keys again. I hadn't expected them to be made of ivory and wasn't surprised that they felt off. But whatever replacement material they used was just as good, far better than the cheap plastic and metal keyboards I've been subjected to in other realities. Electronic keyboards just can never match the real thing. I ran my fingers over the keys again, this time reveling in the smooth motion. I know it’s bad form to slide your fingers along the keys while playing, but there was something about it that I enjoyed.
I could feel the keyboard practically begging me to play it, my hand was drawn to the middle C and I hummed the note before pressing the key. The exquisite note hung in the air like... well like the perfectly tuned note that it was.
Before realized what I was doing I had sat down on the bench and started playing scales and chords, the pegs in the keys only noticeable when I hit the black keys and even that was nothing more than a minor annoyance.
I played several songs in rapid succession, starting with some simple melodies before letting my emotions guide the keys. I simply played, ignoring everything around me and focusing not on the accuracy of my music but the emotion.
It was fifteen minutes later after finishing a piece that left my eyes full of tears that I heard something that snapped me out of my performance.
A quiet sob, looking over my shoulder I saw three mares in various states of shock.
"Umm.... Piano sounds great?"