> Listen To Your Heartsong > by Israel Yabuki > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A Search For Talent > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Listen To Your Heartsong Written by Israel Yabuki Co-written and edited by NineTailBeastBall Modern day music has been getting rather dull these days. Every day, more modern music is made, only for the soul purpose of profit. Music just wasn’t the same like it was back in the good ol’ days. Back then, people sang songs for the soul purpose of bringing joy and happiness to the people around them. To make them feel like there’s hope. Some people listen to old-fashioned music just so they can hang onto what little hope that have left. Other people listen to the modern music just because they think it’s what really keeps life going. However, for people in your case, you preferred to sing songs from your childhood and from your parents and grandparents’ days. Being a musician has always been your dream ever since you were a little boy. Your mom and dad were happy that you wanted to perform in front of a large audience. Back in pre-school, you practiced singing the basic kiddie songs like “itsy-bitsy spider” or “working on the railroad.” You then grew into songs played on these movies. It was when you reached middle school that you asked your parents to sign you up for music lessons, helping you learn to play instruments such as the guitar. However you learned that your skills were most efficient in playing the piano. Every day, you would practice so you would be able to effectively play Reach For The Light by Steve Winwood. You got to attend school concerts and talent shows. You won a few of the performances, but not all of them. There were times when you were outdone by bands. A couple of them offered you to play with them, but you declined and told them it’d be best if you played solo, but you gave them your best wishes on their future. Sadly, during your high school years, tragedy struck. It all started one night when your mom broke news to your dad that you got accepted into one of the best high schools in town. Your dad was so proud, he ended up having too many drinks to celebrate your victory. When he was driving home to congratulate you, he ended up losing control of his car and fell off of the curve. Worried that he might not make it, you went with your mom to see him. Not only was he in the worst condition, you were told he wasn’t going to make it. With his last dying breath, your father told you how proud he was and told you to keep striving ahead and to reach for the light. A couple of weeks later, your father’s funeral was held and as thank you for his supportive words, you sang to him “Father Son,” which was one of the songs you picked up from Peter Gabriel. When you finished, you gave your father’s peaceful corpse one last hug and said goodbye. It took some time for you and your mom to get over your dad’s death, but in the end, you pulled through together and stayed strong. You knew this is what he wanted you to do and to this day, you can still hear him saying in the afterlife “I love you, son. And I’m proud of you.” Life in high school was tough, but it was an adventurous experience, no doubt about it. There was a few talent shows and school concerts just like there was back in middle school. The only difference was how almost all of the performers were rude and overbearing. They kept boasting about how only bands can make it in the music world. However, you begged to differ and so did the judges when you blew them away with the songs you felt would touch people’s hearts. This caused problems around school when the band that became the runner-up to you tried picking fights with you. Fortunately, you always had friends to back you up and tell off the jerks who wanted to give you a hard time. On the day of your graduation, your mom and grandparents went out for dinner and visited your dad’s grave, telling stories about what’s been going on and all of the accomplishments you achieved so far. You never expected that life after high school would lead you to a dead-end. A couple of years went by since your graduation and during that time, you lost your mother to breast cancer. Your grandparents, however, were settling down in a retirement home where they’re treated with the utmost kindness and respect. Every day, you visited them, but they slowly started forgetting who you were. It was sad that your own grandparents were having trouble remembering you, but you helped them refresh their memories with your favorite song written by Steve Winwood, which was Reach For The Light. Nowadays, you spent your life as a pianist in a local bar, even though you swore to never drink for as long as you lived. While working, you barely managed to keep your promise and restrain yourself from the alcohol. The people who came to the bar mostly did so in order to escape from work and drink their stress away. Others just wanted to have a good time with friends or celebrate a promotion. The guys at the bar didn’t mind hearing you play the piano. They even kept saying you should be in Hollywood instead of in a place like this. However, you begged to differ. As far as Hollywood was concerned, they’ve got enough talented people on their hands and you prefer to play for the townspeople because they give off a more appreciative vibe than the famous people do. So in reality, you felt more comfortable performing for your friends and family, rather than a big crowd. Of course, the people at the bar wanted to visit the place more often just to hear your splendid music and drink peacefully. You dreamed of being a musician and you finally reached your goal. However, you still felt empty deep down inside. The life of a gifted musician is nothing more than a hollowed dream ever since you lost your parents. On the surface, people see you as this talented young man with a passion for music, but on the inside, you’re crying. Today, you visited the city mall, it was the anniversary of the day you lost your dad, but you were also planning on getting a gift for your deceased mother, too. Dad always loved alcohol, no matter what kind it was. Your mother had a passion for cats and dogs. You then came across a store sold antiques, which were hand-crafted by the store-owner himself and just now, he finished sculpting a statue hand-held of a rabbit to a woman. You got curious of what the statue was supposed to mean and decided to ask the owner. Being the good natured man you were, you felt guilt when you saw him sigh at the question. He explained that he sculpts hand-held statues for people whenever there’s a special occasion. Mostly for birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations. Sadly, this one has more personal meaning as it was a momento to his late wife. Going further into detail, he explained how his wife was a great woman who worked with saving and adopting stray animals, especially rabbits. It broke your heart to hear such a story. You asked if there was anything you could do to help him. Sadly, there wasn’t anything you could do, other than try the one impossible task: buying off the rabbit he had sold to the lady. Even if it was a slim chance, it was still a chance you were willing to take nonetheless. Before he could object to this, you bolted out of the store, looking for the woman he sold the rabbit statue to. Whether or not it was luck, you caught a glimpse of the woman when you saw her going down the escalator. You raced to the escalator as fast as you could and pull off a reckless stunt, sliding down the railing. You landed on the floor feet first, accidentally scaring her. “Just what do you think you’re trying to do, young man, give me a heart attack?!” she snapped. “My apologies, ma’am. I never meant to scare you,” you said, trying to be polite. “Hmm... and why do I find that hard to believe?” she asked, feeling skeptic. “You don’t have to believe me, but I want to ask you something.” “Oh, alright, but make it quick. Today is my daughter’s birthday and she’s is going to throw a hissy fit if I don’t deliver this thing to her.” She reaches into her shopping bag and pulls out the hand-held rabbit statue. “It’s regarding that rabbit you bought. I’d like to buy it off of you. Please miss, that rabbit statue means a lot to the man who sold it to you.” you begged, putting your hands together. “You? Why would I want to sell it to you? You probably don’t even know how much I paid to get this horrible thing!” she argued. “Maybe not, but I still want to buy it off you. Go ahead and name your price, I’ll pay whatever you want.” “My dear boy, why are you so interested in this statue?” she asked, getting annoyed. “The man who sold it to you… it was momento to remember his deceased wife. She lived her life rescuing stray animals, including rabbits. That statue you have right now is the only one he had left that gave his life value and meaning. So please! I’ll pay you anything you want.” you continued begging. Not once did you look away when you explained the situation. The woman looked at the little rabbit statue and back to you with a sigh. “Oh alright, fine, but $150 is as low as I’ll go.” she said, sternly. You felt defeated, but better, knowing that she was giving you the rabbit back, even if it was at a hefty price. You got out your wallet and pulled out all of the cash, giving it to the woman. She hands you the rabbit statue and leaves, saying these last words. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood.” you smiled and made your way back to the antique shop. You gave the man back his rabbit statue and explained what happened. He gave you a smile, telling you how grateful he was that you returned his wife’s momento. As a way of thanking you, he handcrafts you 2 wooden hand-held statues, free of charge. One was a dog and the other was a cat. When you got the gifts, you felt a heavy burden lift off your shoulders. Thankfully, also purchased some liquor with your debit card. Now that you had the gifts for your deceased parents, it was time to head to the cemetery. Suddenly and unexpectedly, a swarm of kids came running out of the candy store, running past you and you tried to get out of the way. Suddenly, you leaned back on the railing of the 2nd floor too far back and lost your balance. You shouted, falling down to the first floor where you felt the impact of your head slamming to the ground. There wasn’t any pain, as your neck had cracked the moment you touched the ground. Your vision grew hazy and were shrouded by faded screams and a bright light. If this was how you were going to die, you accepted it without regrets. Suddenly, the sensation changed and it seemed like everything was weightless, just like how you felt. You floated in a void of endless light. But then, everything went black As your senses slowly came back to you, you could feel that you were now laying on something much softer than concrete. You opened up your eyes slowly and saw that you were outside in a town you weren’t familiar with, much less, found on a map. You sat up on your knees and were relieved that you still had the dog and cat statues. You “What is this place?” you ask yourself as you put the statues back into your pocket and stood up. “It’s not like any town I know of, that’s for sure.” You walked around the town, wanting to get some answers from the local town residents. “Hello?” you called out. “Is anyone here?” Your thoughts were interrupted by loud cheering coming from somewhere on the west side of the town. You follow the noise and planned on asking the citizens what all the fuss was about. Those plans suddenly change when you caught sight of a bunch of weird anthro horses, crowding up this building. Strangely, the anthro horses who kept cheering were all speaking regular English. Getting up close to the building, you noticed there was a banner that said “Music talent show this weekend. Winner gets to sing in a duet with singing sensation: Countess Colouratura.” Asking this question probably wasn’t the best idea. “Just who is this “Countess Colouratura” anyway?” Asking such a question ended up quieting the crowd and cause them to face you with shock. “Uhh... did I say something wrong?” you ask, backing up in fear. “How can you not know who Countess Colouratura is? She’s only like one of the prettiest and talented singers in all of Canterlot!” said one of the mares. “Canter-what-now?” you asked again. The Mare before you only laughed at your confusion and placed a hand on your shoulder. “Let me guess, you’re another human who’s come from the planet Earth?” she asked. You froze at what she had just said. “H-How did you...?” “Recently, there have been numerous occasions when humans with good souls would get pulled from Earth and get a second chance at life here in Equestria. Though, it’s kinda random about where they land in Equestria. Right now, you’re in Ponyville” she explains. “So basically, I’m in another world called “Equestria,” and I have no way of getting back home?” you asked, almost wanting to faint “Precisely, and it’s because so many humans have decided to live in Equestria that we’re no longer afraid of them. And Equestria is mostly inhabited by ponies,” she explains. “Okay then... uhh... “ you glance at the window of the building for no reason and notice a couple of instruments on the stage and a crowd of ponies chatting and cheering. “...is this music talent show available for anyone?” “Yup, just talk to that stallion with the clipboard and he’ll sign you up. The admission is free, so good luck if you want to play,” she said. “Well... thanks for giving me a little bit of info about this place. Wish me luck,” you said, walking inside the karaoke bar. Even though that mare told you that humans were no stranger to their world anymore, you still felt like a freak. You approached the stallion with the clipboard and told him your name. “Is there something I can help you with?” he asked in a snobby tone. “I... I want to sign up for the music talent show,” you said, almost nervous. He obviously doesn’t know the meaning of respect when he laughed at your request. “You? Enter the talent show? Now I know I’ve seen everything,” he gloated. “Very well then, but don’t press your luck there, sport. It takes more than beginners luck to win this contest! Now take your seat and scram, I’ve got other ponies to sign up.” As instructed, you walked to an empty table. ‘Sheesh, what’s up with that guy?’ you thought. Regardless of what his situation might be, you forced yourself to let it go. Later on, the lights in the building went off for a few seconds. The lights on the stage shined brightest and up on the stage, this beautiful mare with long, blonde hair, orange fur and emerald eyes had the mic in her hand. “Fillies an’ gentlecolts, welcome to tonight’s Ponyville Music Talent Show. Tonight, we’ve got tons of talented ponies who’ve signed up fer the chance of getting to perform a duet with our closest friend and celebrity: Rara!” she announced. The crowd all cheered, lifting their cups up in the air. “Now, without further ado, let’s get this show on the road ever’pony! YEE-HAW!!!” The talent show kicked off pretty well. Many ponies who performed on stage showed some promising talent. If you were the judge of this competition, it would have been a challenge to pick the winner. Then again, that’s the point. A total of 6 performances later, the stallion who signed you up called your name. You got up from your seat and approached the stage, taking deep breaths and shaking off your nerves. It helped you calm down a little bit. Normally, you would have gone for the piano, but you felt like you’ve been neglecting the guitar, so that’s what you grabbed. “Come on, already! We don’t have all day!” said the stallion with the clipboard. You sighed and approached the mic and started singing the song “I Still Love You” by Josh Jenkins. During your performance, you could hear the crowd cheering you and saying things such as “keep it up,” “you’re doing great,” and “show us what you got!” You felt more at ease as you kept singing your song until it finally came to an end. The whole crowd cheered for you. After that, you put the guitar back and bowed to the crowd as you walked off the stage. You walked back to your seat and sighed in relief. “I’m feeling better already,” you said. ‘Regardless of whether I win or lose, I’m just glad I got to perform again,’ you thought. Three more ponies performed on stage, still showing off their natural talents as musicians. After that, the same pony with blonde hair and orange fur walked back on stage 10 minutes later. “Fillies and gentlecolts, you’ve done an excellent job with them there singin’ skills y’all got. I’ve talked it over with Rara and now, it’s time to announce the winner,” She said. Somewhere in the audience, you heard a drum roll. “And the winner of the Ponyville Music Talent Show is…” in that long pause, everyone held their breath and then… she called out your name. You were surprised that you won. You stood up from your seat, looking at the audience who cheered for you. The mare on stage signalled you to come up to her. You walked up on the stage and got addressed by the mare in question. “Congratulations, partner, you’ve won yerself the chance to sing with Rara in a duet. How do ya feel, knowing you’ve earned this opportunity?” “I... well, to be honest, I didn’t know I was gonna win. The thrill of getting to perform in front of an audience makes me feel alive,” you admitted. “Well, partner. Rara’s taken a liking to how you showed so much heart in your performance. You should feel proud that Rara picked you out of all of the contestants. In fact, how ‘bout ya hear it straight from her mouth, come on up here, Rara!” Turning to the side, you were introduced to a lovely young mare with a light grey coat and dark hair. She wore a beautiful dark violet sleeveless shirt with blue trims. She hand on a matching skirt that reached down to her knees. She had beautiful baby blue eyes that seemed to shine like the night sky. You managed to snap out of your thoughts before things had become awkward. “Such a pleasure to meet you. I’m Countess Colouratura, or Rara for short,” she said with a bow. You told her your name and took her hand. Knowing how to greet a lady, you brought her hand up and kissed it, causing her to smile. “Such a gentleman, I respect that,” she said in a melodic voice. You could already tell that Rara here has talent. “Now, which song would you like to sing for our duet?” “Y-You mean I get to choose which song I want us to sing?” you asked. “That’s right. Since you won the competition, you get to decide which song you want to sing. My friends come first,” she said. ‘I just barely met her and she’s already considering me a friend? This town might not be such a bad place after all.’ you thought. “Alright then. I know of one song I have in mind, but I don’t know if you know about this song. It’s called Strangers by Scratch21.” “Hmm, I think I’ve heard of him from my friend, Fortis back in Canterlot. He told me about this song and I actually took the time to memorize that song during my spare time at home,” Rara explains to you. “Seriously? You know the song?” you asked, surprised. Rara gave you a wink which you took as a signal to start singing. You grabbed a guitar and started playing while you sang with the grey mare. As you had predicted, Rara’s voice was unlike any other that you’ve heard in quite some time, The audience cheered with joy as you both took off on stage, wowing the crowd with your combined talents. When the song ended, everyone cheered with joy and excitement. You held Rara’s hand and took a bow, thanking the crowd for enjoying the performance. “You sang pretty good, Rara,” you said dabbing your sweaty forehead with a towel. “You’ve got some pretty amazing talent yourself,” she praised, causing your face to flush in embarrassment. This only made Rara giggle, but she coughed a few times before her voice turned serious again. “You know, there’s a another special reward I’ve got planned. If you want, I could take you to Canterlot and show you what it’s like. I’ll even introduce you to a couple of my friends, although most of them are celebrities,” she said. “Hmm, gee I don’t know. Do you really think I’ll fit in? I’ve mostly spent my life performing for people in my humble hometown.” you said, unsure. Things just keep getting more and more interesting. One moment you end up in another world, then you win the talent show, and now the mare you just sang with is inviting you to yet another unfamiliar city. “I can assure you, even though a lot of my friends are celebrities, they’re as kind as can be. I mean, yeah, a few of them used to be “snobby,” but they changed themselves for the better,” Rara assured. “Well I’ll admit you’ve peaked my interest,” you answered with a small smile. How could you possibly say no to this nice young lady you just performed with? “Very well then, I’ll take you up on that offer. I am curious of what Canterlot looks like.” “Great! But I think it’s best if I took you tomorrow,” she said giving you an unexpected hug. “It’s getting a little late tonight and I gotta head back to my hotel room soon. the train leaves at 10:00 sharp, so be ready when I come to get you,” she said as she looked up at you. “Uh, r-right, okay. I’ll make sure to be up bright and early,” you promised and Rara finally released you from the hug. “W-Wait a sec, where are you gonna pick me up at? I just realized that I just arrived in Ponyville and I don’t know where to sleep.” “That won’t be a problem, sugarcube,” the country pony said. “Y’all can stay the night at my house after Ah fix up the guest room. Ah figure ya must be tired and hungry from all that singin’ and dancin’.” “T-Thank you,” you said, quite surprised at this generosity. “But are you sure you want me to stay the night, I don’t want to be a burden.” “Ya ain’t a burden, sugarcube. If there’s anythin’ Ah live by, it’s to always help out a friend in their direst of need. Ah could even introduce ya to mah family. Everypony is nothin’ but kind and honest.” “Take it from me honey, I’ve known Applejack since childhood and she’s a great pony at heart. So go ahead and stay over at her place and I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning, okay?” Rara asked taking your hands in her own. With both of their reassurance, you nodded and accepted their offers. It didn’t take long before the entire crowd of ponies had left the building to return to their homes. Rara returned to her hotel room at the Hay & Stay Hotel while Applejack took you down the path to this big apple farm known as Sweet Apple Acres. The whole farm had so many acres of apple tree, they probably stretched on for miles. You were impressed by how many fresh apples were growing from the branches. Up ahead, she takes you to her house, showing you around the place. Applejack made sure to introduce you to her husband, whom she calls Bucky and their son, Apple Slice. She also introduced you to Apple Bloom, her little sister and Big Macintosh, her older brother. At the moment, both of AJ’s siblings were feeling a little down. “Applejack, what’s going on here?” you asked. The cowpony sighed and took off her stetson and placed it over her chest. “Ah think it’s better if I took you upstairs and explain,” she said, feeling a little down herself. She walks upstairs and you kept up with her. She walks you to the far end of the hallway and explains everything. “Ya see, my family and Ah are goin’ through a bit a phase. Our grandmother, whom we knew as Granny Smith, had passed away recently. Everypony’s been tryin’ to cope with her passing, but the ones who were affected the most were mah sister and mah son. Granny Smith was a big part o’ our family and she loved and cared for each and every one of us. Now that she’s gone, it’s like a piece of us had died alongside with her.” You stood there, speechless for a while, but you eventually found the strength to speak. “I... I’m very sorry for your loss. I know exactly what it means to lose the ones you treasure. To want to grieve is only natural, but she wouldn’t want you to give up on life. Trust me, I know. I lost my mom and dad back home. That’s why I carry these as my last memento of them. My dad loved to drink and my mom loved dogs and cats.” “Ah appreciate yer kindness, sugarcube,” Applejack said wiping her tears. “Ah’m sure yer parents would be proud o’ ya.” “Thanks, Applejack. And I’m sure your grandmother would be very happy to know that you and your family are still pulling through together. After all, there’s nothing that pleases our loved ones more than to see their children and grandchildren staying strong and moving on.” “Yes, that’s true. Now, just wait downstairs and Ah’ll have Bucky make the dinner. Ah’ll go on an’ fix up the guest room,” You did as you were told, unaware that the food would be better than you has anticipated. Apple Bloom and Bucky have cooked up some nice apple pie along with apple tarts, fritters and apple brown Betties. Lastly to wash it down, was some cold cider. You made sure to thank the Apples for such great hospitality before Applejack led you to the guest room. “Once again, thank you for letting me stay here for the night,” you said getting comfortable on the bed. Applejack walked up and patted your shoulder with a smile. “It was mah pleasure. It’s only natural to help out a friend in need. Anyway honey, you should get yer rest. After all, Rara will be here fairly early tomorrow,” she reminded as she prepared to take her leave. She closed the door on her way out and left you to lay in your bed as you stared out the window, watching the moon shine beautifully in the night. The moonlight helped you relax and soon you tucked yourself in the blankets, falling into a deep sleep. > Karaoke In Canterlot > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following morning, the loud noise of the roosters outside had woken you up from your slumber. The clock hanging over the door showed that it was 8:00 A.M, though it seems the roosters had acted as your alarm for this morning instead of the clock. Nonetheless, you got yourself out of bed and stretched your whole body, yawning loudly. You heard a knock at the door and gave permission to come in. You were greeted by Applejack’s smiling face. “Mornin’ sugarcube, sorry if the roosters gave you an annoyin’ wake up call,” she said. “No worries, Applejack. The earlier the better,” you replied. “Still, Ah can’t help but feel like Ah’m sayin’ goodbye to a good friend. But Ah know you’ll be back in Ponyville, whether you choose to live in this town or just visit. It’s not every day that my closest friend, Rara, gives her fans a local tour of Canterlot,” she said. You nodded and allowed the orange mare to lead you upstairs where breakfast was waiting. Entering into the kitchen, you saw Apple Bloom had prepared you a plate of pancakes along with some apple juice. Big Mac, Bucky and Apple Slice were eating the exact same thing. “Thank you,” you said as Apple Bloom gave you your plate and juice. Sitting beside Big Mac, you poured some syrup on the pancakes before you began eating. As you had expected, the pancakes were quite delicious, but you remembered your manners and made sure not to eat too fast. Making conversation, you learned Big Mac would also have to catch a train today, as he’s making a delivery for his marefriend, Sugar Belle. That was alright, you didn’t mind waiting a little longer. Bucky and Applejack, on the other hand, had to get a head start on their work. Apple Bloom had to take her nephew, Apple Slice down to school. Finishing breakfast, you still had about two hours before Rara showed up, so you decided to freshen up. Applejack had provided you with some nice spare clothes, as well as an unused toothbrush before you went into the shower. As you washed your hair, you couldn’t help wondering what Canterlot was like. Rara after all told you she would be giving you a tour after the amazing duet you did yesterday. Singing alongside Rara had made you feel more alive than ever before. You’ve never performed a duet before in your whole life, not even back home. What are the odds that your first duet... was with someone who’s considered a celebrity? After a good 15 minute shower, you stepped out and started getting dressed in the clothes that Applejack had gave you. You also made sure to brush your teeth very thoroughly before exiting the bathroom. You headed down the stairs and instantly noticed that Rara was talking with Applejack and had her bags ready. It didn’t take long for her to notice you and she walked up to you with a smile. “Hey, looking sharp. Are you all set and ready to go?” she asked in that lovely voice of hers. “Yup, all set. You’re looking pretty amazing yourself, Ms. Rara,” you said “Oh please honey, just Rara is fine. We’re all good friends here, I’m no pony’s mentor,” she giggled, waving her hand. You scratched the back of your head, chuckling nervously. “S-Sorry, it’s an old habit of mine,” you admitted. “No worries, now come on and follow me. The train is going to leave soon and we gotta hurry if we’re going to make it to Canterlot,” she said. You nodded and said your goodbyes to everyone and thanked them for their kind hospitality. You allowed Rara to guide you with her through the town to get to the station. The sound of the steam engine could be heard just ahead. Rara ran as quick as she could, never letting go of your hand. You both managed to arrive at the station before the train was ready to take off. You thought you would have to use the bits Applejack had provided you to get a ticket, but Rara vouched for you and gave you a VIP ticket to first class. All these luxuries she was offering you were way above your normal standards, but you still accepted them and chose to stay humble and kind. Settling down in the first class section, you instantly discovered how comfortable the seats were when you sat down. “Is this what they call “traveling in style?” This is quite fancy,” you said, causing Rara to giggle. “You can imagine that a there lot of ponies who have dreamed of traveling first class. I was pretty flabbergasted when I first experienced this feeling first-hand when I became a celebrity. Of course, when I first started my career, I didn’t realize at the time that my manager was manipulating me,” “What does that mean?” you asked carefully. After all, you didn’t want to accidentally offend the mare who’s been so kind to you. “You see, my old manager, Svengallop, was only interested in using me to pamper himself with all of the luxuries anypony’s ever dreamed of: fancy high-quality food, fancy clothes and massages and fixing up that ridiculous ane of his.” Rara began shaking as she told her story and you instinctively wrapped an arm around her to comfort her. “It’s okay, go on,” you urged rubbing her softly. “He only cared about the image of “Countess Colouratura” that he built,” she said. “AJ tried to tell me, but I didn’t want to listen. I thought she was just jealous of my success. After AJ tricked him into revealing his true intentions, I fired him and decided to perform as the pony I actually am,” she finished with a big smile forming on her face. You felt happy that Rara had discovered the truth. “The important thing is, you let go of the ghosts of your past and moved on, improving yourself as both a singer and a pony.” Rara allowed you to keep your arm around her as she began to feel drowsy. Your guess is that like you, she had woken up pretty early this morning. It wasn’t long before the grey mare had fallen asleep in your embrace. You however, managed to keep yourself awake and looked out the window to pass the time. You didn’t have a watch on you, so you lost track of how long this train ride has taken. If you had to guess, you’ve been on board for about an hour. Looking down, you saw that Rara was still sound asleep. She let out cute snores as she snuggled against you, causing you to smile out of amusement. As much as you were against it, you gently shook the grey earth pony awake, as you had a feeling you would arrive in Canterlot soon. Rara slowly stirred from her nap and opened her eyes with a yawn. “Are we there yet?” she asked still laying against you. “No, but I have a feeling we’re getting close, so I decided to wake you,” you explained and Rara nodded as she sat up. True to what you predicted, as you looked out the window you could see some buildings come into view. No doubt this was Canterlot. “Out of curiosity however, what did Svengallop look like?” you asked, as you met a rather snobbish stallion yesterday. For some reason, you just couldn’t get that jerk out of your mind. “He had a white fur coat, as well as this weird poofy pink manestyle-” You stopped her right there, as that matched the description of the stallion you met at the karaoke bar. “Did he have glasses?” you asked, causing Rara’s eyes to widen. “Y-Yeah, how...?” You were about to tell her about the stallion who insulted you yesterday when the steam engine cut you off. The train began to slow down as it approached the Canterlot station. ‘I guess my instincts were right,’ you thought and decided to continue this discussion elsewhere. You and Rara then got out of your seats after the train made a complete stop. Exiting the train, you remembered your manners and took Rara’s hand to help her down the steps as well. This of course, earned a smile from your companion and the two of you began your stroll into the city. Looking around, you saw many ponies in nice clothing holding their noses up at the sight of you. Others however looked at you, or more specifically Rara with gasps since she’s a famous performer. “My word, what is she doing, walking around with that hideous commoner?” one of the ponies asked, disgusted. “How unbecoming for a promising singer!” another noble blurted out. It seemed like all of the ponies who lived here were stuck-up and ill-mannered. Angry, you about to walk away from Rara to tell the snobs off, but she kept a good grip on your hand. “Ignore them,” she insisted keeping a smile on her face. It amazed you how she could remain in a pleasant mood. You were about to protest, but then… “Just listen to yourselves, it’s rather dreadful. So what if Rara’s with a human, you don’t see me judging her. You shouldn’t be so quick to judge others,” said a female voice. You and Rara turned your attention to this elegant unicorn mare who was also accompanied by a human and had a child of their own. “L-Lady Fleur! You’re not in the least bit disgusted?!” one of the nobles asked. “Why would I be disgusted? Have you ponies forgotten that the princesses are married to humans themselves? And they were commoners once in their lives, just like mine. Before you open those uptight mouths of yours, you need to start treating others with respect! I’m ashamed that this whole city is doesn’t appreciate the simpler things in life,” she scolded. “B-But milady, he could just be using her!” another noble persisted. “I’d prefer if you didn’t jump to conclusions and go about your daily business or I will alert this constant harassing to the princesses! We might be nobles, but you never show it through the kindness in your hearts... if you can even show kindness. Now, I’m going to make this perfectly clear to you all: no more judging others by their social standing, am I making myself clear?” The nobles backed off and nodded at the elegant mare. They bowed to you and made a mad dash to avoid anymore confrontation from the mare called Fleur. “It’s nice to know that one of my bestest friends is helping us out,” Rara said. You looked at her with a surprised look. “Wait, she’s one of your friends? I didn’t know that,” you said. “Yup,” Rara waved over at the mare to come over. She did so willingly. You didn’t know why they seemed so close to each other, but from your perspective, they looked like they were married. “It’s ever so wonderful to see you again, Rara and I see you’ve brought a friend with you. Nice you meet you, I’m Fleur De Lis. I’m one of Canterlot’s favorite models,” she said offering you her hand. As you did with Rara, you kissed the mare’s hand before telling her your name. “As I said before, this wonderful man is my husband, Fortis,” she said gesturing to the man beside her. “Pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking your hand. “And of course, this little lady here is our daughter, Graceful Charity.” Graceful hid shyly behind her mother, but did manage to form a small smile as you looked at her. “Aww, she’s so adorable. I bet she’s going to grow up as to be as beautiful and successful as her mother,” Rara beamed, causing Fleur to giggle. “So, what brings you dears to Canterlot?” Fleur asked. Given that she stopped those snobs from harassing you and Rara, Fleur deserves an answer. “Well, Rara here offered to show me around Canterlot after we performed our duet in Ponyville. It was the first duet I ever performed in my life. I like to play music and sing in front of so many amazing people, but mostly people who lived in my old hometown. I’ve witnessed Rara’s singing talent and I was impressed by how angelic her voice sounded,” you explained. “Oh, how delightful. Well I hate to cut our conversation short, but we have our own responsibilities to take care of,” Fortis said as he took his wife’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” “Alright then, take care you two. You, too, little Graceful,” Rara says, giving their daughter the biggest and warmest smile she could. Serene giggled. “Thank you, Ms. Rara,” she replied, before she and her family continued on their way. As you and Rara continued your stroll throughput Canterlot, you quickly noticed how big this city was compared to Ponyville. Not to mention the impressive tower not too far ahead. Fleur had mentioned how two princesses rule Equestria alongside their human husbands. Logically, if Canterlot is the capital, then the princesses must live in that castle. Of course, it would take time to actually meet the princesses in person, so you and Rara held off on that idea. In the meantime, Rara showed you around the city, starting with the center of it where there was a beautiful fountain and many cafes. Rara also showed you other places like the Canterlot Theatre. Unknown to either of you, a very familiar earth pony stallion was stalking you. Rara takes you up close and shows you all off these posters hanging on the wall. It showed many celebrities who’ve come from all over to perform. You noticed that amongst these performers, Fleur was scheduled to be in a fashion show, while Rara was scheduled to sing. You felt a smile grow on your face from what you had just read. “Why didn’t you tell me you were performing in this show, Rara?” you asked, turning to the sheepish mare. “I wanted it to be a surprise for you. It’s always a habit of mine to surprise others,” Rara admitted, blushing lightly. Unfortunately, your little moment was cut short when you both heard a familiar voice. “And what a surprise it is,” said a male voice. One neither you nor Rara were too thrilled to hear. “My boy, I have seen the work you’ve displayed at the talent show I volunteered at. I dare say you’ve got a promising career ahead of you, unlike a certain ingrate who gave up the success that I built for her!” “What are you doing here, Svengallop?” Rara bitterly asked while squinting her eyes with suspicion. “My business is of no concern to you, Colouratura. I’m far more interested in that little friend of yours with the pizzazz of a voice he’s got. Now listen, kid. I’m about to make you an offer you will definitely not refuse. Picture this: Spotlights, a giant stage, ponies coming from all around Equestria just to hear your special talent. You’ll be showered with luxuries and gift from dozens of adoring fans, living the luxury life! So, what do you say? Are you in?” Svengallop offered. “I say... go away, you’re in over your head. All you ever think about is yourself. I know all about how you manipulated Rara just so you could have the luxuries all to yourself. Luxuries you unreasonably demanded. You don’t care about your singers, you just care about your own image and the images you’ve built. You don’t know what it means to really be a manager.” “Oh-ho and like you can do any better?!” Svengallop provoked, feeling offended. “If you mean by treating my friends and singers with respect and admiration, then yes! Now I suggest you leave us alone before I start to make this a personal matter with you!” Svengallop growled and attempted to grab your shirt, but you ended up grabbing his wrist and held it in a vice grip, tightening it and bringing Svengallop to his knees. “I’m only going to say this once more... get... out… of my sight!” you growled, intimidating the stallion and releasing your grip on his wrist. You could see a small wet area between his pants. He crawled backwards and got up, sprinting away from you and Rara. You groaned and gripped your head. “Hey, are you alright?” Rara asked gently touching your shoulder. “I just can’t help getting so angry when dealing with snobs like him...” you groaned. Though you felt yourself calm down from Rara’s soft hands on your shoulder. “I know that feeling all too well. I have to live with that feeling every day in my career. Still, not all of Canterlot is full of snobs. I have some friends who happen to be celebrities and are very nice. And they’re all going to be performing here at the theatre. Well, except for one friend, but I still keep in touch with her from time to time,” Rara says. Taking your hand, she lead you into the said theatre as the show would be starting soon. The sun had begun setting over the horizon and ponies from all around have gathered into the theatre, anxious to see Canterlot’s famous celebrities perform live on the stage’s runway. To start the show, a mare named Photo Finish sent out a few new models, showing off their gorgeous dresses and fashion accessories to the crowd. Photo Finish was one of Rara’s closest friends who, despite her job, she always respects others. After the model recruits were finished, Fleur De Lis and a couple of pro models made their way on the runway, posing for the cameras and blowing kisses to her fans. Fortis had a perfect view from backstage as Fleur’s manager. So far you were enjoying yourself, though you still couldn’t help wondering if that snobbish Svengallop was going to try to pull anything. After all, you did humiliate him in public after rejecting his offer. Your worries were pushed aside as the next pony came onto the stage. It didn’t surprise you that the next performer was yet another mare. Being introduced as Sapphire Shores, you saw the mare had a cream colored coat while her mane was a dark blue color. She adorned a lovely white dress decorated with many gems. She too was also one of Rara’s closest friends and was far from snobbish. She was as kind and considerate of her friends just like Fleur and Photo. Rara leaned over telling you that Sapphire is known as the Pony of Pop and you quickly learned why. Grabbing the mike, the enthusiastic earth pony began to woo the audience with her voice, including you and Rara. It lasted about 15 whole minutes until it was finally time for you and Rara to perform. Rara showed you the song she picked out for you and her to perform. Fortunately, you didn’t have to rehearse because you listened to this particular song back home multiple times. Fleur and Fortis also got invited to perform. Rara walked out onto the stage first and grabbed the microphone. “Hello everypony, it’s nice to be here with all of you tonight. Now, before we begin, I’d like to tell you all that I am pleased to announce that after all this time that I’ve been a singer, I have finally found someone I can call my lifelong partner after my trip to Ponyville,” she said. Rara soon calls you to come up on stage with her. The first ones to clap for you were two tall ponies with horns and wings. The tallest pony had white fur and a rainbow-colored mane and magenta eyes. The other one next to her had midnight blue fur, mane and eyes. The moment those two clapped, everyone else clapped along with them. Fleur and Fortis also walked out on stage. Unfortunately, there weren’t any mics left to give them, but they had a backup plan. Both Fleur and Fortis had headsets that were connected to the speakers around the theatre so others will hear them. “Now, without further ado, everypony sit back, relax and enjoy the show,” Rara said. The audience all remained silent, listening closely as the music started playing. The audience was in shock the moment they heard you singing. Fleur and Fortis were just as surprised to hear your amazing voice. Later into the song, hearing Fleur and Fortis sing made you smile at how talented they were. As you all sang together, the audience gave out whistles and slight cheering. When the song had ended, the audience cheered and clapped with joy. Smiling, the four of you took each other’s hands and gave the audience a bow. Of course, there was still time for a few more songs, which mostly you and Rara performed. The audience was wowed at the other amazing songs you and Rara sang until 15 minutes later, it was time for everyone to retire for the night and head home. You and Rara stayed backstage for a while to get better acquainted with Rara’s other friends. “Zat vas most magnificent, you two! I haf never seen such a talented display between musicians!” Photo Finish exclaims. “I absolutely agree, hun! Never in my life have I ever seen the most perfect duet! I dare say your good friend here has a promising future ahead of him. Tell me, sweetheart, where did you learn to sing like that?” Sapphire asked. “I uh... well, where do I begin?” you asked yourself and the others, stroking your head. “Please, tell us all about ‘ow you started singing from ze very beginning!” Photo said. “Well, alright, but listen closely. This is something I would only tell those I truly trust. And I’d say you all fit that position.” You spent over ten minutes telling them your whole meaning behind your decision to become a musician. “Ever since I was little boy, I always wanted to play music for my fans. I practiced a few kid songs when I was in preschool and kindergarten and then as I got older, my mom and dad helped sign me up for piano and guitar lessons. I’m fluent with the piano, but I wanted to improve my guitar skills. Things were going great, but when my dad heard about how I got enrolled in this private high school, he had too much to drink and ended up in an accident. He died with a smile, telling me how proud he was of me.” “Oh darling, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Fleur said with tears forming in her eyes. “I never knew you shared a strong bond vith your father. Do you still vish ‘e vas ‘ere?” Photo asked out of sympathy. “Of course, same with my mom, too,” you replied. “Your mother, too? Oh you poor dear, when did that happen?” Sapphire asked. “Some time after I graduated high school. My mom was a strong woman who would do anything to make sure I didn’t lose sight of what was truly important. But...” you paused and reached into your shirt, pulling out a locket. “I still kept this locket with a picture of my family as one of my last memento of them. I never once forgot how much I love them.” You continued talking to your new friends for a few more minutes before deciding to call it a night. Sapphire, Photo and Fleur told you that if they were in your shoes, they’d probably be feeling the same thing you are right now, but they also said that you should keep on doing the thing you love the most, not for your parents’ sake, but for your own. After that, the conversation ended with a big group hug and soon everyone grabbed their stuff and left the theatre together. But now that the show was over, you had one thing on your mind. “Rara?” you asked. “Hmm?” she asked back. “What did you mean by me being your partner? Are you saying that from now on I’m going to be singing alongside with you as a duet?” “I’m sorry, I should have asked you in the beginning if you were okay with it. If you want to go and pursue another career, I won’t stop you, but the least I can do is offer you to stay over at my place if that’s alright with you,” Rara offered. “Uh, well... I don’t think I’ll be performing at any local karaoke bars anytime soon, so I suppose I could give professional singing a try, as long as I have you as my partner.” “Then I guess it’s official,” she beamed as she wrapped her arms around you in a warm hug. You didn’t know why but you could have sworn that before she hugged you, Rara’s cheeks had turned red. Somehow, somewhere, as you returned Rara’s hug with one of your own, you could faintly hear your parents calling out to you. “We’re so proud of you, son.” > A Blissful Melody In The Night > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It’s been seven months since you and Rara agreed to become partners in the music business. During those months, you and the beautiful singer found yourselves becoming closer. You were no longer living in Ponyville as throughout your career, you and Rara visited many other cities across Equestria, performing these amazing duets and a few singles. You and Rara took your relationship slowly the first few months, but in due time, you ended up falling head over heels in love with her. You soon found the guts to confess to her, and to your relief, Rara became overjoyed and admitted that she had the same feelings towards you. It wasn’t long before she gave you the nickname Tenor. For your next gig, you and Rara were scheduled to perform at the Crystal Empire, which is probably one of the most beautiful kingdoms in all of Equestria. You had heard that Princess Cadence and her 2 husbands were looking forward to seeing your amazing talent. You and Rara had a song already picked out and had rehearsed it day and night to get the lyrics down, as well as your cues to sing. However your duet with her was only for the main event. For the opening act, Rara was going to do a song she still remembers from camp when she was a little filly. You also had a song you were planning on singing, one that always brightened your spirit. The train ride to the Crystal Empire from Canterlot was taking over four hours though neither you nor Rara were complaining. While you looked out the window, your marefriend was snuggling against your chest. “What are you thinking about honey?” she asked looking up into your eyes as they looked away from the window. “I guess I’m just curious as all. Unlike you, I’ve never been to the Crystal Empire before, but I heard it’s the most beautiful kingdom out there. I just hope that I can make a good first impression to everyone,” you replied with a sigh. Rara smiled sweetly and kissed your chin, causing you to blush. “I say you have nothing to worry about. Unlike Canterlot, the Crystal Empire ponies are a lot nicer than you may think. The princess and her husbands are just as nice, too,” she assures. “Speaking of which, how can a princess end up with two husbands? Is that even possible? What are they like, anyway?” you asked. “Well, her first husband is a unicorn and her second husband is a human, just like you. What’s more is that the unicorn, Shining Armor is the older brother of Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship,” she said with admiration in her tone before she went back to laying on your chest. “I can imagine it was a rocky start, but it seems this Shining Armor had agreed to allow Cadance to marry again. That must have been a big pill to swallow for him. Are the three doing alright?” you asked, causing Rara to giggle. “You’d be surprised, Tenor. If you don’t believe me, just wait until we get there,” she assured. Seeing as you still had about two hours, Rara decided take a quick nap. You smiled and combed Rara’s soft mane as she fell asleep on you. It’s amazing how this mare could make you so happy. She let out cute sighs as you comb her beautiful hair. ‘Oh Rara, you are just too cute to resist,’ you thought running through the curls in her dark mane. You made sure to be gentle so you wouldn’t disturb her from her slumber. ‘Heh, sometimes it’s hard to tell if she’s a pony or a kitty.’ Moving to the mare’s ears, you scratched behind them a few times before moving to close the window. You couldn’t help letting out a yawn now that the sunlight has been blocked out. Before long, you also drifted off. As always, the loud roar of the train’s steam engine went off upon arriving at its destination. It was more than enough to wake you and Rara up from your little nap. Getting off of your chest, Rara stretched her body while yawning in an adorable manner. You got up to stretch yourself, feeling a few small bones crack and you let out a sigh. You and Rara grabbed your bags and walked off the train, catching a glimpse of the Crystal Empire, which made your eyes widen. “Wow! This place is beautiful,” you gasped, causing your playful marefriend to smirk. “I told you so, Tenor,” she teased and booped your nose. You chuckled and gently pinched her soft cheeks, making her giggle. “Come on you tease, let’s go get our stuff checked in. After all, we can’t be late for the performance,” Rara reminded. You nodded and followed your marefriend into town, checking out the scenery. The ponies in the kingdom was very polite and caring, just as Rara had said. A few of the locals waved at you and Rara and you waved back at them with a big smile. “I think I’m already starting to like this place,” you said wrapping an arm around Rara. “Well, better make the time last, we’ll be staying here for the weekend,” Rara said, before the two of you came to a stop. “Well, we’re here,” she points over to her right where there’s a crystal building displaying a sign that said “Crystal Empire Hotel.” You both head inside and talk with the front desk. “Excuse me, we’ve got a reservation for Rara and Tenor.” “Of course,” said the stallion behind the desk. He grabs his clipboard and looks over the list. “Ah, here we are. Follow me, we have your room all set up and ready for you two.” Nodding, the two of you followed the stallion to the elevator and went all the way up to the 7th floor where there were only a total of 10 rooms. 3 were occupied by other ponies you didn’t know about. The stallions leads you and Rara to the hotel room on the other side of the floor on the right hand side. “And here is your room. If you ever need any assistance, feel free to call us anytime. Enjoy your stay, you two.” he said, opening up the door for you two. He gives you and Rara your own room key before heading back down to the 1st floor. The room had quite an impressive view of the town and the castle in the distance. The sun was only visible by a few inches, so it was almost time to head out and perform. So, you took out the clothes you were going to perform in while Rara took hers and walked into the bathroom, getting herself ready. You managed to change into your new clothes a little quicker than Rara. Stepping out of the bathroom, you saw she wore an open dark violet overshirt, only without the diamonds. Underneath it, she wore a midnight blue and black shirt with no sleeves. She had a skirt that matched her overshirt in terms of color, but also had a dark pink stripe on the front left. “Hey, looking sharp, Rara,” you said with a wink. “You look pretty nice yourself, Tenor,” she smiled. “Are you ready for tonight’s show?” “Definitely! Let’s give everyone the best show of their lives,” you said, confidently. With a nod, you and Rara made your way back downstairs, holding hands as you did so. It was clear to anyone who was watching that the two of you were in love. Once down at the 1st floor, you both ran through the lobby and out the door. At that moment, two guard ponies approached you. “Tenor and Colouratura, I presume?” one of the guards asked. “Yes, that’s us,” Rara confirmed as she leaned against your arm. “Please, allow us to give you an escort to the Crystal Empire Stadium. The ponies have all arrived and are waiting for your arrival.” “Thank you,” you said and allowed the two stallions to act as your guides. You had to make a mental note in your mind to thank the princess and the princes for giving you a helping hand. In a matter of 10 minutes, you had arrived at the stadium. As expected, the whole place was filled with ponies and sitting on the north side of the stadium was a pink alicorn with pink, purple and blonde hair. On her right was a white unicorn with blue hair and on her left was a young man who appeared to be in his mid 20s, maybe a little older. In each of their hands were children: two to be exact. One of them looked to be female and looked to be either 8 or 9 years old. She was an alicorn with pink fur and purple mane with a blue stripe. The other child was definitely male. He only had alicorn features, but the rest of his body was human form and had his mother’s purple eyes. He had blonde hair with a dark purple stripe similar to his mother. You and Rara approached the royal family with big smiles on your faces. “It’s so wonderful to see you again, Rara. And it’s nice to finally meet your… boyfriend?” the princess asked, teasingly. Rara giggled and blushed. “Yup, he’s a really nice guy and a talented musician,” she said. “You can call me Tenor. That’s what mostly everyone calls me nowadays,” you said. “Wonderful to meet you. I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but my friends call me Cadance. These two wonderful guys here are my husbands,” she said gesturing to the two beside her. “I’m Shining Armor, nice to meet you. And this is our daughter, Flurry Heart,” he said, gesturing to the alicorn standing behind his leg. “Hi Rara, hi mister,” Flurry said, puffing up her cheeks with a smile. “Hello Flurry. Oh, you’re growing up so fast and you look so pretty,” Rara said, kneeling down and giving the young princess a hug. Flurry giggled and hugged her back. “My name’s Blade. I’m Cadance’s other husband. And this little guy here is our son, Raging Halberd, he’s a bit of a fighter, so careful if he starts throwing punches,” Blade said, patting his son on the head. “I’mma be the stwongest fighter anyone’s ever SEEN!” Raging exclaimed, throwing his little arms around like an adorable teddy bear. Blade had to hold him back to keep him from going overboard. “Of course, he still has 15 years to wait before he can start training properly. He’s only 3 years old, so I can’t let him near any weapons,” Blade said still restraining his rambunctious son. “That’s pretty good parenting. I pray he’ll grow up to be a brave, young soldier,” you said. Blade’s son put his hands on his sides, posing proudly. Rara couldn’t help herself when she lunges at Raging and hugs him. “You’re so cute when you think like that,” Rara said, rubbing the top of the boy’s head. He began pouting since she wasn’t taking him seriously. “Hmph, make fun of me all you want, I still gonna gwow up big and stwong one day!” Raging pouted, puffing his cheeks in embarrassment. “Come on, Rara, you’re embarrassing the young prince. We still have a show to do, now let the young prince catch his breath so we can finally start,” you said, making Rara pout adorably. Letting go of Raging Halberd, she follows you to the stage where a couple of instruments were set up for the opening act. ‘This should be fun,’ you thought, growing excited as you got onto the stage. You didn’t mind that Rara was gonna go first with her song. Rara took her seat, ready to play the piano. She looks at you with a smile and you smiled back at her with a thumbs up. With a nod, Rara sighed and began singing “The Magic Inside.” You and the audience all cheered and clapped for her from the way she sang so well. Naturally, when the song ended, they asked for an encore. Looking at you for input, you nodded an gestured her to give the ponies what they wanted. Rara knew exactly what to sing, but she switched from a piano to a guitar. She took a deep breath and began to sing “Equestria, The Land I love.” It was a relatively short song, but it still touched the hearts of many ponies, including you. Once she finished, it was time for your solo act to follow through. “Alright everyone, it’s time to give it up for Tenor. Show him some love, everypony!” Rara exclaimed, gesturing towards you. You bowed and walked up to the piano and spoke up to everyone through the mic on the piano. “Before I begin, I just want you to know that I’m very honored to be here with all of you, including my lovely Rara. This song is what helped me become the musician I am now and I have my friends, my family, including my beloved mother and father: may they rest their souls in peace.” The crowd awed with sympathy and soon, you performed your song “Reach For The Light.” Naturally, when it came time for the 3rd chorus, you called out to a few children to come and sing with you, but only a few of them ran on stage, singing the song with you. After the song finally ended, everyone broke out into applause. You of course, were exhausted from all the excitement you’ve had tonight, but you were still smiling. However, there was still one song left that you and Rara still had to sing. This time, Rara performed on the piano while you played an electric guitar. “And now, everyone. We have one final act before we turn in for the night. A special song Tenor and I rehearsed just for you guys. So as always, sit back relax and enjoy the show,” Rara said. Without further ado, you and Rara sang “As Long As You’re Mine” by The Wicked Cast. Singing so marvelously, no one in the audience was able to sense your fatigue. In fact, you have never felt more alive than you are now. Perhaps it was the immense love you felt towards Rara and you wanted to express these feelings towards her after the show is over. The crowd gave you and Rara the biggest applause of the night. You and Rara bowed and thanked everyone for showing up to watch you sing. Later that night, things were beginning to settle down, so you and Rara were finishing your dinner with Cadance’s family. You mostly spent the time eating and chatting about pretty much everything that went on until now. Taking a sip of your wine, you spoke very highly about Rara and how she’s been nothing but kind and amazing to you since day 1. Rara blushed at your praise and gave you a kiss on the cheek to show her gratitude. Cadance didn’t need to use the Crystal Heart to know that you two were in love with each other. Being the princess of love, it warmed her heart to know Equestria had yet another couple. After you had finished your wonderful dinner, Cadance personally escorted you and Rara back to the hotel with Rara barely able to stand on her feet. It was a combination of her having too much to drink and the fatigue from your duet. Seeing an opportunity to get closer to her, you carried the tired mare bridal style, causing both her and Cadance to giggle. “I think I hear wedding bells,” the pink alicorn teased. This time, it was your turn to blush. “Maybe... in about a year or two, but let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet,” you said, chuckling nervously. Eventually, you arrived at the hotel. You looked at the princess and smile at her with gratitude. “Anyways, thanks for the amazing dinner, Cadance. It was delicious, not to mention a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know each other,” you smiled. “You’re very welcome. And thank you for entertaining the citizens with your amazing talent. I wish you both the best of luck in your career and your love life. And just remember to always be true to what you believe in and never lose sight of the one pony whom you love,” Cadance replied before she began to take her leave. Once the princess was out of sight, you proceeded in taking Rara back up to your hotel room. She stared up at you with a dreamy look in those beautiful eyes of hers, causing your heart to melt. Once you were in the elevator, you gave her a kiss on her lips. The elevator soon stopped on your floor and you pulled away from her soft lips. “I hope that’s not the only kiss I’m going to get tonight...” Rara whispered as you got out of the elevator. “Oh no, far from it. I assure you, you’ll get more than just one little kiss when we get to our room,” you replied with a slight chuckle. Once you arrived back at your room, you were forced to put Rara down so you could unlock the door. Immediately after doing so however, you scooped your marefriend back into your arms and closed the door with your foot. You carried Rara to the bed and gently set her down before stretching out your body. Closing the window blinds, you joined your lover on the bed to resume your make out session. She combed your hair sweetly as you placed soft kisses on her lips before moving to her cheeks. Though you couldn’t help growing curious as she moved her hands down your back. “Do you have something in mind Rara?” you asked as she continued to rub your back. You emitted a low moan as soon as the tension in your back started fading. “You’ve been taking such good care of me today, so now how about I take care of you? It’s only fair, hun,” she said before giving you the puppy dog eyes. You chuckled and nodded at her and allowed Rara to continue massaging you. You continued moaning when you felt Rara hit all the right pressure points on your back. “Sweet Celestia, I needed this...” you moaned feeling your marefriend’s soft hands. “And you always say I’m the cute one? Look who’s talking, cutie,” Rara giggled, reaching up to massage your shoulders. You didn’t make any kind of comeback, as your focus was on how well Rara was using her hands. “Take off your shirt for me honey,” she said sweetly. You sat up for a moment so you could do what she asked. You grabbed the bottom of your shirt and pulled it off of you and tossed it on the ground. Without turning back to Rara, you laid back down so she could resume her work. Your eyes widen however when something even softer than her hands made contact with your bare back. Slowly turning your head as much as you could from this position, you saw that Rara had also taken her shirt off and was rubbing you with... her plump E-cup breasts. “R-Rara... I-I...” you tried to say. “Shh, don’t talk. You earned this for being so good to me... So just relax and enjoy your boobie massage, my handsome musician,” Rara whispered seductively. Your face was heating up from this treatment, but you didn’t say anything else. True it was rather unorthodox, but it still felt good having her two large marshmallows massage you. “How does it feel, Tenor?” she asked leaning next to your ear. Your body shuddered. “I-It feels p-pretty good,” you stuttered a bit. Rara giggled and kissed your cheek again. “Glad to hear it,” she whispered before she continued moving her breasts along your back. The more she massaged you with her two large melons, your pants started to grow uncomfortably tight due to your raging hard-on. Sensing your discomfort, Rara pulled away from your back. Confused, you turned yourself around and looked up at your gorgeous marefriend giving you that beautiful, yet seductive smile. You made a mental note to yourself to make sure she doesn’t drink too much next time. Of course, you also had to watch your own drinking habits. Without saying a word, Rara got off of you and helped you take off your pants and boxers. Your pants slid off with ease, but your boxers were stuck. She tugged a little harder and freed your hard, throbbing shaft. “Oh wow, I didn’t know you were this big...” she gasped, tenderly stroking the tip. You twitched a little bit. Getting an idea, Rara licked her lips. “So this is your sensitive spot, huh? How cute.” But before Rara could even get a taste of it, she reached down and took off her skirt and panties so as not to leave you hanging. “Let me guess, the old 69?” you asked. Rara nodded and hovered over you, presenting her wet nether regions to you. She got to work on sucking on your manhood at the same time you got to work on licking her marehood. Rara let out cute, muffled moans. You massaged her plump round booty as you kept licking her wet flower. It was quite a unique taste, as it was somehow both sweet and sour. A perfect mixture that you found most tasty. You slid your tongue inside her a bit and slurped up her wet inner walls. Now it was Rara’s turn to shudder in pleasure. Rara still kept sucking on your stick like a popsicle. She took it to the next level by getting a good feel of your ballsack. You moaned inside her wet nethers, almost climaxing, but you held in a little longer. To show your affection, you gently stroked her cutie mark before giving both cheeks a squeeze. Rara pulled off of your member and giggled as you played with her rump. “Can’t resist my tush, hun?” Rara asked, wiggling her butt left and right. “Guilty, I just can’t help it if you have such a beautiful booty,” you retorted, making her blush. Rara leaned back down and slurped up some more of your pre-cum leaking out of your member. You resumed eating out her pussy, slurping up whatever juices were leaking out of her. Her juices have appeared to become a little sweeter than before. You decided to send her over the edge my plunging your tongue as deep as you could inside of her. Your actions caused Rara to tremble in pleasure and bliss. In addition to moaning louder on your hard member, her breathing was growing rapidly quick. You knew this could only mean she was approaching her climax. You weren’t far behind, though. You could feel your climax building up quickly as she bobbed her head up and down as fast as she could, swirling her tongue around your shaft. You squeezed her butt cheeks as hard as you could and groaned, feeling your impending release. Rara’s climax hit at the same time and exploded her juices in your mouth. You drank up her love honey while she drank up your hot milky seed. Once your climaxes had died down, the two of you sat up and looked into each other’s eyes with great affection. You reached over and stroked Rara’s cheek, admiring her beauty. “I love you more than anything else...” you whispered, causing her eyes to widen slightly. “D-Does... Does that include music...?” she asked. To answer her question, you reached behind her head and pulled her into a kiss. Enjoying the soft feeling of your lips, Rara slowly closed her eyes and felt a little silly from asking the question. You decided to make it more passionate and prodded your tongue against her lips, asking for entry. She grants you permission and wraps her arms around you as your tongue entered into her mouth. The kiss deepened and your tongues danced passionately with each other. With one hand, you reached up and began to play with her ears, while the other gently squeezed her breast. Your loving kiss must have lasted at least five minutes, but you soon pulled away with a string of saliva connecting your lips to Rara’s. The grey mare looked at you with a loving smile and lidded eyes, as if she was in a trance. Her gaze shifted down to your erection, which still hasn’t softened. “I… I’m ready for you to take me now, Tenor...” she muttered as she moved to sit on your lap. From this position, your erection stood resting against her belly.You were hesitant to proceed, as you could see the worry in her eyes. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” you asked wrapping your arms around Rara in a hug. “Yes... You have my full trust. If I’m going to give my virginity to anyone, it’s you. Just promise me... you’ll be gentle. I’ve heard it’s painful to experience this for the first time,” Rara said. “I promise…” you whispered, making her smile. With that, you brought her into another kiss while you lift her by her hips. Once your erection was below her marehood, you slowly lowered her back down. As you continue to ease into her, Rara bit her lower lip as you reached her hymen. Rara grabs onto your shoulders and plunges herself down on your shaft, gasping out of pain and pleasure. You grunted from how tight she was, but brushed it off and looked at Rara. “Hey, are you alright, does it hurt?” you asked, stroking her cheek. “Y-Yes...!” She strained herself from shouting in pain. She sobbed quietly from the intense pain she felt in her nether regions. You wrapped her in your arms, rocking her side-to-side, trying your best to ease the pain. Her sobbing stopped shortly afterwards after the pain had receded little by little. “Thank you, Tenor. I was really scared there for a minute, but now I’m fine,” she reassured you. When she was good and ready, she slowly rocked her hips up and down, emitting soft moans from her mouth. She was no longer afraid that she had lost her virginity. You slowly rocked your hips with hers, gazing into her half-lidded eyes and holding her safely in your arms. Rara’s beautiful smile always made you happy. She then leans herself onto you, resting her head on your shoulder, moaning in your ear. “I... I love you, Tenor. P-Promise me you’ll... never leave me,” she moaned. “I… I promise, Rara. And I love you, too,” you whispered. Your hands traveled down her naked body and grabbed her butt cheeks. She hummed seductively and began bouncing on your lap. You could feel your shaft reach her deepest areas. Her inner walls squeezed your manhood as tight as they could. You couldn’t just let her do all the work, so you thrusted upwards inside her. Rara moaned louder, pressing her whole body onto your, pinning her breasts on your bare chest. She then pressed her lips against yours again. However, she pushes herself onto you a little too far and caused you to fall backwards. Moving away from your lips, Rara let out a silly giggle because of her carelessness and you soon joined her. “Guess you don’t know your own strength,” you teased with a wink. “Aww, thank you, honey. Now where was I? Oh yeah!” Rara exclaimed, before bouncing on your shaft more erotically. She rode you intensely, rocking her hips back and forth, bouncing up and down and rested her arms on the back of her head. She wanted to drive you insane with her smoking hot looks, and she was doing a fine job. “Y-You’re really sexy…” you couldn’t help saying. Rara of course let out a giggle from your compliment. “Mmm, you’re not so bad yourself, hot stuff,” Rara retorted, bringing her hands under her large breasts, teasing you. “Come here so I can give you something for being so good to me.” You gulped as you looked at her sizable bust. Unable to restrain yourself, you sat yourself up and were suddenly pulled in and felt your face nestled in between her bountiful bosom. She had gone and pushed you over the edge as you felt yourself grabbing her and slamming your shaft a lot harder and faster. Rara moaned even louder from how good it felt. “Oh C-Celestia, yes! That’s it, Tenor! R-Rut me until I c-can’t walk anymore!” Her screams was literally music to your ears. ‘She even screams in a lovely voice,’ you thought with a chuckle. Nonetheless you granted your marefriend’s wish and picked up the speed as you held her. You didn’t know how much longer you were going to last, but that wasn’t important. You were enjoying the close contact with the love of your life. You leaned up and kissed her sweaty cheek, making her giggle yet again. “T-Tenor, I... I’m getting close! I’m gonna cum!” she moaned, holding onto you for dear life. “S-So am I...!” you grunted sinking your hands into her cutie marks. Setting her back onto the bed, you increased your rhythm until you couldn’t go any faster. Her breathing was at its quickest and her busty marshmallows jiggled violently. You held her legs up as you pounded inside of her nethers. After a while, your climax reached its limit and exploded deep inside of Rara, overflowing her womb with your hot seed. Some of it leaked onto the bed sheets as well as her own nectar as she squirted out her juices like a sprinkler. Rara moaned in ecstasy, throwing her head back. You thrusted a few more times inside of her, letting out whatever cum you had left. Coming back to your senses, your eyes widen as you realized what you’ve just done. “Oh jeez! I-I-I’m so sorry, Rara, I-I-I got so excited that I... I... oh man, what have I done?!” you panicked, gripping your hair out of guilt. “Tenor, relax,” Rara said calmly reaching over to put a hand underneath your chin. “The truth is, I’m actually okay with it.” “Y-You are?” you asked. “Yes, I was actually looking forward to this day when I would finally have to take me. And it’s all thanks to you that I can finally experience the one thing I wanted to for a very long time. To be honest, when AJ made me the godmother of Apple Slice, it was like I had my own child. But now, I get to finally become a real mother, the mother to your child. If I’m gonna have anypony’s baby, I’m glad it’s yours,” she confessed, hugging you. You felt relieved that she wasn’t mad and you returned her embrace, slowly laying yourselves down on the bed. You pulled the blankets over your naked bodies and kissed her passionately on the lips one last time. “To be honest, I’ve always dreamt of having children of my own. I know you and I will become great parents one day. I love you, Rara,” you whispered kissing her on the forehead. “I love you, too, Tenor,” she whispered back. The fatigue soon takes its toll on both you and your lover. What once became a friendship has now blossomed into romance. With Rara by your side as your partner and lover, your future here has only just begun.