The restaurant was at once as familiar to Tracy as it was entirely alien. Places like this existed on Earth, where visitors spent more money than he made in a month to indulge in things made in countries he couldn't pronounce. Of course none of them were in Ely, though Vegas had its share.
The Bridle Path was perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a lower level of the city, with wide widows that took up almost the entire wall and a live pianist filling the restaurant with soft music. Like many in Canterlot she was a unicorn, using the glow of her horn to play an instrument with keys too small to press with a hoof.
He stumbled once on the way to their table, wiping at his face with a wing. They were good for something other than flying after all.
"Something wrong?" Rose slowed, looking back at him. "Are you..."
There were others in the restaurant, just a few small groups like theirs tucked away into the corners. Along with the staff, who watched him with the same concern.
"N-no." He choked it back, putting on a smile for the waiter as they ordered. He couldn't even pronounce anything on the menu, so he just asked for a recommendation, ordering it without question.
"What is it?" Rose asked again as soon as they were alone. "Is it all the unicorns? They're not all bad, just like not every earth pony is a farmer. It's just dumb stereotypes left over from a meaner time."
"Nothing like that," he chuckled, glancing back across the restaurant. "It's stupid, and I'll get over it." You haven't in two years.
"Tell me," Rose urged. "What is it—if we're going to be together, then we have to be honest. It can't be worse than sneaking off in the middle of the night."
"I wasn't sneaking!" But she was right, put that way it did seem absurd. He cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes. "Alright, I'll tell you. But then you have to answer one of my questions."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Fine, Tracy. I don't have any secrets."
"It's not. When I was growing up... my mother taught us all to play piano. I hated it, but my sister was really good. She used to get sheet music from the latest Broadway plays, and fill up the house with it. I..." He wiped his eyes on a napkin, and didn't speak again until he was sure his voice wouldn't crack. "I stayed away from it since the crash. Makes every studying playlist on Spotify completely unlistenable. But... I said it was silly."
Rose didn't laugh. She reached across the table, resting one hoof on his. "I don't know what all that means... but I know what you feel. Sometimes when I'm closing up at the flower stand, Daisy or Lily will come in without saying anything. It's like my parents are still working. I spend all day around the shelves my dad built, I have to dig through Mom's notes looking for suppliers."
"That must hurt," he whispered. "You can't run away, or the thing they built dies because of you."
She shrugged. "Sometimes it does. But more often, it helps. The only thing they loved more than the flower stand was us. Being part of that is good."
Of all the people I could've spent the last few months with, it's someone who lost her family too. There was a little envy there—what Tracy wouldn't give for Robin to still be alive. Instead, he could only be grateful Rose hadn't lost her sisters as well as her parents. He wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.
They fell silent for a time, as their meals finally arrived. They were small portions, which some part of him had been expecting too. His was something he could only vaguely describe as a meat pie, with a savory smell that made him take every bite slowly. "I can see why you wanted to come here," he said, relieved that she'd finally let the subject rest. The piano hadn't stopped, but he could handle it. Now that he was expecting the pain, he could resist it. "This is fantastic."
He looked like an awkward, clumsy fool eating it, compared to the unicorn patrons with their magical levitation. Hadn't Marshall been a unicorn? Lucky. Except that he'd never learned to use it, just like Tracy had almost not learned to fly.
"Yeah," Rose agreed. She said nothing about how silly he looked. Maybe she didn't care. "Wish we could've come here more often, but the prices are... as outrageous as you think they are. Big city unicorns whose families have run Equestria for generations—the people who serve them eat here. It seems frivolous to spend so many bits on food, but... every now and then. For special occasions."
He felt a fresh wave of guilt at the thought. He knew full well how desperate her financial situation could be. He'd walked that edge of collapse himself, only months before. "You've been hiding," he said. Quietly—not confrontationally, he hoped.
"I've never had a girlfriend I never got to see before. Do you want to... change your mind? Is that what this was?"
"No!" she snapped, loud enough that a few ponies turned to look. They sniffed, then turned up their noses. Tracy could make out some impolite muttering about unsophisticated ponies. But he couldn't care less. Let them talk.
"I've been with bats before," she continued. "So I'm not new to your schedules. Sometimes ponies adapt to be up at night, so they can be together. But I've never been able to do that, thanks to the flower stand. I just assumed if you didn't visit me at the shop, that you... didn't want to be together."
He winced. Of course it would be something like that. Someone who wants to call things off doesn't leave flower arrangements at home and make breakfast before you're even there.
He nodded slowly. "I want to do this right. But I'm new at being a pony. I'm learning as fast as I can, but it's a process. Where I come from, dating someone means spending time with them. It means sharing their interests. The last two times, it ended with moving in together... at her place, since I didn't have one anymore. It does mean all those same things in Equestria, doesn't it?"
Rose laughed weakly. "You're already making progress, Tracy. You're moved in."
This is gonna be so weird if we start sharing a bedroom. It isn't like I'll be able to sleep when she does most of the time, I'll be at work. But just thinking about that made his ears press flat in embarrassment. Tracy felt like a teenager all over again. A lifetime of trial and error to reach some kind of understanding of the opposite sex was all out the window. Much seemed to translate, but not all.
"I guess that's what it means," Rose continued. "Guess we... were kinda already doing it. You've been helping with the flower stand, and I'm here to help you fly."
He shook his head, making a brief, frustrated squeak. Where had that come from? Rose giggled, and he went on, suddenly unable to meet her eyes. "It's a start. But it's not with you, it's for you. I want to be with you. If that means giving up a little sleep, then that's what it takes." And some questionable potion that certainly won't come back to bite me later.
"I'll plan for camping," Rose said. "Nightmare Night is coming up, we could celebrate that together. All the bats I've dated loved Nightmare Night."
"Yes," he said. "Me too. Assuming that's... what I think it is. Also, I believe our next date will be on my side. You promised we'd go after Canterlot."
She grumbled unhappily, nodding. "Not sure... I'll be much use over there. I've never been an adventurer. I still work at my parents' flower shop, all these years later. You're the one who came to another world and braved all the magical dangers along the way."
I'm the brave one? He hadn't felt very brave at first, hiding in his room and barely talking to anyone. Equestria had been passing him by then. But now... now maybe he was a little braver. He'd asked her out. He was bold enough to learn to fly, and to defend his friends in court. Maybe I can be brave.
"It's not so hard," he finally said. "Just make sure you're wearing lots of clothes when you cross over. On our end, they're... mandatory."
He blushed again, trying desperately to silence his own imagination's projection of that mistake. The appearances of ponies didn't translate in any way he could describe, yet it made the same visceral, physical sense.
"That seems inconvenient," Rose muttered, folding her hooves in dissatisfaction. That displeasure only grew when their bill arrived a few moments later, and she left a pile of bits on the tray. "Wouldn't they get in the way? Being overdressed, I mean. So much more work to clean, so much more expensive to have them for every occasion..."
He shrugged, rising with her to leave the restaurant. Instead of following her, Tracy settled in beside her, close enough to touch. He could only guess whether this was the kind of thing he was even supposed to do for a pony he was dating. But Rose didn’t stop him, and he didn't particularly want to move away again. Her body felt cool compared to his own, with a much slower, plodding heartbeat.
Maybe that was just another bias. She smelled almost as nervous as he felt.
"We take them off when they're in the way," he said, as they left the shop behind. It was still too early for flying lessons, though.
They didn't head for the top of Canterlot and the school. Instead they approached the palace, but not any part of it he'd seen before. There was a much smaller gate down here on the lower levels, one that opened to another section of its spacious garden.
"Where are we going?" he asked, glancing curiously around at the overgrown statues, and the dry, empty fountains. Canterlot had never seemed like a particularly bustling city, but with tall grass and plenty of leafy hedges, even that noise faded to a distant hum.
"Not many ponies come down here," she answered, leading him up the steps to a vine-covered gazebo. Ancient markings covered the walls, adorning the busts of stuffy-looking ponies watching them from all sides. "I thought we might want a little privacy before your lesson. Maybe you wanted to ask for some help... reviewing. Or something."
She reached one hoof down beside him, holding the book up. How she could do that with a hoof, Tracy couldn't guess. Lots of practice.
He lowered one wing, brushing the book aside so it clattered to the ancient stone floor. He lowered his head towards her, frozen for a second in the shadowy twilight. "How about... Or something?"
He kissed her. It was hardly the most private setting—deserted though it seemed, other ponies might come upon them here at any moment. He was new, clumsy in a body he still didn't fully understand. But Tracy intended more than a chaste peck on the cheek.
Some things didn't need instruction manuals.
Awwww
Cute as always! Thanks for the chapter, look forward to the next one!
Hey, is Discord still in the moarket for housing? I kinda need a place to stay, myself. And I'm not having much luck with getting per-certified with a mortgage, and I'm not wealthy so outright buying a place is out of the question....
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Certainly my dear, but the market is a bit dry right now. Let me see...
Snaps fingers as a scroll appears
I've got a 1 room studio apartment with a roommate. Comes with a guard cerberus.
Knowing Discord that was probably not a coincindence.
Also it's very good to see that their date was a success and I'm very much looking forward to what follows.
Discord: See, I can do match-making.
Cadance: <snort, and hold card read '6.3'>
Discord does know what he's doing. It's just that no one else does.
May want to clarify "when they're in the way" there, Tracy.
Still, lovely stuff. There are long-term concerns to think about, but the couple can and should have this moment.
10494180
that sounds like a hot deal
You know, I've always had to question that, the idea of playing a conventional piano with magic...I sort of doubt Equestria would really ever develop a conventional piano like that if magic was really the only practical way to play it.
Also, playing it with magic doesn't strike me as that impressive. It's sort of like playing a song on an automatic player piano--is it really you that's doing the impressive side of the work? Personally, it'd think most unicorn musicians would still use hooves where possible, because doing so would take real skill and would imply that there is an inherent art to it...like you'd expect of most instruments. People don't play them because they're easy to learn, you know.
But I digress.
Again, pretty sure that was no accident. If Discord's managed to clearly convey anything on his true intentions behind all of this, it's that he's had this all pretty well planned out.
Maybe it's like a kitchen timer going "ding," and it's just signalling you're nearly "done" and a full proper bat pony now.
It largely is. Actually, it'll probably be your big chance to cross paths with Luna again while you're at it--won't that be fun?
Not that he had much choice on the matter, but I see her point. He could still be hiding away and trying to avoid prolonged contact with all things Equestria like he had been early on in the story. Instead, he decided to start venturing out into that unknown anyway, and that does take a certain amount of bravery to do.
That raises a relevant question--does she own anything that will translate into something that will properly cover her lower half? I sort of doubt she owns anything like pants, after all...she just might have to resort to wearing some sort of dress, regardless of the formality of the intended date...
Of course, I suppose what serves as pants for Tracy on Earth don't exactly translate into anything like pants when taken into Equestria, so...maybe the portal will make up the difference for them.
Guess we'll be finding out before too much longer, eh?
Nothing like dead family and a little emotional trauma two people can bond over. Discord certainly had a lot of luck if Tracy was a coincidental renter. Then again, scoring one-in-a-million shots one million times in a row is just as chaotic as any other random incident in the multiverse.
Much worse than Tracy. You literally cannot avoid these things with spending money to replace the shelves and spending a good amount of time rewriting those notes.
Double points for being the next door neighbor as well.
You'd think ponies wouldn't want to be distracted at work. At least that's what Tracy would probably think.
Well, there goes that bit of fanservice. Imagine her confusion thinking clothes are mandatory during love making.
I can't really see laundry being more inconvenient than increased sweat and odor getting on furniture and surfaces touched by bodies.
Guess he's crossed another base. Won't be long before he gets to cheeks again. Just... not the ones on Rose's face.
Love is universal. At least between human-like sapient mammalish civilizations.
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/LH4V4av
Yup, he done gone native. No turning back now.
Watching Tracy finally going in and kissing Rose :
.......realizing that this probably means doom for his career, and at the end of the year he'll have to move out probably?
10494246
A pair of pony socks and Rose got herself some pants or shorts, no problem. Still given her lack of knowledge of human dress code, I'm certain overdressed would probably mean upper body to her and the "Donald Duck" style of fashion would seem appropriate at first glance if she doesn't choose a dress. Can't imagine Tracy's reaction to that sort of ignorance. Well, I can.
Though overthinking it, I wonder... Tracy's underwear translated into nothing through the portal... would that mean Rose would materialize some? Or is it commando time for her since there's no equivalent culture-wise? How culturally-minded is the portal, exactly? These are question that have to be asked, but will never get answered.
D'awwww 💞
Well that's friggin' adorable. Love how he's doing the little hoof pop, too.
Dawwwww! Nice chapter. Can't wait to see Rose on Earth.
Caaaaan you feeeeeel the loooooove toniiiiiight?
Well, now hes gotta pick between worlds. Rose or his job.
Cute
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Well, this afternoon anyway. In Equestria.
10494300
It's Discords portal, so likely both appropriate and a little twist. Perhaps she would look like some shopkeeper from Ren faire.
Really enjoying it so far! Also that’s artwork is amazing! Who is making that art for ya if i may ask? Anyways keep up the awesome work and can’t wait to see more!
I don’t get how Rose’s parents died. For Changelings every pony is a precious source of love. I can understand the occasional guard or unicorn wizard being too much trouble to take alive but Rose’s parents were unarmed untrained civilians how did they put up such a fight that they were killed rather than captured. Was it something like being trampled by other ponies in a panicked stampede?
10494467
the one who did this chapter's piece is Viwrastupr
Here's his DA page if you'd like to see all the awesome stuff he dose https://www.deviantart.com/viwrastupr
10494506
Perhaps it could have been due to collateral damage during the attack. I doubt the changelings were very careful about bombarding Canterlot when the invasion began. Not to mention we're talking about creatures that were borderline starving, rational thought probably wasn't much of a factor, like a pack of starving wolves coming across a small herd of sheep. My point being, there probably was a lot of chaos and pandemonium during the invasion where a lot of ponies likely got hurt, even if it wasn't in the changeling's best interest.
some pictures speak a thousand words some speak a million and some speak from the heart.
10494403
Easy choice. Also she looks distrubingly similar to my avatar image in this chapter.
Daww
I do hope we get a picture of human Rose.
And that's when Tracy learned earth pony tonsils have their own, interesting flavor.
10494246
Most commonly, I've seen stories say that instruments like guitar or piano were invented by a race that has fingers (or similar appendages) such as griffons or minotaurs, and unicorns simply learned to play the foreign instrument with magic since they lack the necessary anatomy.
Other times, the author just ignores the question exactly as the show does.
EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
A lovely chapter Starscribe and as always I love the additional art, it just adds to the story just so perfectly. I look forward to seeing how things will play out with Tracy next week.
I fear that he has not yet properly thought out what will happen at the end of his contract, what will do?
10495367
An assumption that does work to a degree, but if such instruments truly are of foreign origin, then considering how this often works in the real world, I sort of doubt the instrument would really be as widespread in Equestria as is often suggested, especially seeing the ponies are, arguably, not well-built anatomically to play them as intended.
Besides, there's also the point that, in the show, if any pony were to play the piano, they typically did so with their hooves anyway...which theoretically could be done if you scaled up the size of the piano keys accordingly (playing complex chords might still be tricky however), though you probably would either have to break up the key arrangements into more than one row akin to that of an organ in order for one player to be able to still reach all of the keys at that scale, or inevitably reduce the full musical range a piano could play at the same time.
10494180
hmmm....this kind of cerberus?:
Dawww
Here I was getting worried, because that was a terrible date until the very end when Tracy knocked it out of the park.
10494403
Pft, don't pretend for a second that's a real choice :3
10494246
You can totally play a piano with two hooves and the unusually strong wings that pegasi have.
Now this is what I subbed for.
BLASPHEMY!
- Twilight, somewhere, probably.
I have long been of the view that just because we see a "human" looking shovel or other tool does not mean that the ponies are really using a human tool; it just means that it is drawn in a way that shows us something we will understand.
So a keyboarding instrument that is intended for an animal that can only press with their arm, and still needs to do chording, will not look the same.
(The scary thing is what I've seen human piano players do, to a song I was certain could only be played by a computer.)
10496218
You‘ve never heard of bats that only eat fruits or nectar? Not to mention vampire bat drink blood.
A deserted gazebo to study in, they're going to get so much studying done.
10495925
It's okay, Twilight. Not all books on a subject are instruction manuals.
i.imgur.com/L98XdTs.jpg
10496508
yay another googlestia pic! (I think you missed an opportunity with the falling book )
when you didnt immediately pop in I got worried we lost the googlestia
10496392
I have, but bats that eat bugs only also exist.
And in this fic, they apparently eat bugs on top of typical horse-feed. Hence why I mentioned bats that eat bugs, and not the others.
10496898
I was scared too, but the Princess of Googly Eyes still lives and is still best princess
Rose: "Scarf and hat aren't enough."
Tracy: "No, probably not."
....
ABOUT CELESTIA DARN TIME!!!
Awwww!
Very nice!
Finally. Let the Drama begin