The train was waiting for them at the station. Twilight hadn't said anything, but the conductor knew she was going to be on board. And while a princess could be as late as she pleased, no train was going to make her wait because it wasn't on time. And certainly not the train driven by one Justin Time.

Twilight lead the way, her regalia shining. She was less than pleased at having to wear it, but considering she wasn't the only princess who would be attending, she wasn't going to be at anything other than her best. Spike trotted along beside. He'd declined her offer to go in her place, and her second offer to come along. Being a princess had it' privileges and getting a seat for one more was among them. He'd begged off by saying he had to organize the organizational charts, an excuse she wouldn't catch for another several hours. Robert was wearing his jacket, but his top hat was tucked away in a box on his back. He didn't want to risk damaging it before they arrived. The train was cut down to just the engine, coal car, and the passenger car. It was technically an express, but in this instance it was classified as Twilight's Personal Transport. A seemingly insignificant designation, but one that allowed it priority to it's destination. If she'd known, she'd have been thoroughly embarrassed. This was why Celestia had ordered no one to tell her. The pair boarded the train, followed by an embarrassed Bon-bon. Particularly when the conductor, not entirely sure of the normal protocol, used her legal name of Sweetie Drops. She turned a bright red.

“All aboard!” he called out the window. The conductor in the locomotive grinned, and blew the whistle.

“So...” Twilight said, after ten minutes of silence. “Anyone know any good jokes?”

“No.”

“Want to hear the history of jokes?” she asked.

“NO.”

“Just asked.” she turned to the window.

“Sorry. I'm just a little nervous. Lyra's never preformed this song in public on an instrument she just learned.” Bon-bon shook her head. “I don't know what she was thinking, but I didn't want to break her confidence...”

“It's okay.” Twilight smiled. “How did you two meet?”

“Oh, well, she picked me up in Canterlot actually.” Bon-bon smiled, thankful for the memory. “I was there learning from a master candy maker. I'd gotten my cutie mark in Fillydelphia, but all the best candy makers are in Canterlot. So my parent's had gotten me an apprenticeship there. Smooth Taste, if you ever have the chance, makes the best mints I have ever tasted. And I have tasted quite a lot of mints. For one reason or another, they're Lyra's favorite flavor of candy, and he happened to make the best. Some people don't like mints, but mostly it's because they haven't had his. Then again, after you've had his, the rest of them don't ever taste quite right.” she chuckled.

“Anyway, one day, I was running the front counter. Smooth was in the back, doing some of his culinary research. That's what he called it. Mostly he was eating lunch, but I liked working the counter. Making sweets is fun, but selling them is where I really excel.” Robert made a disgusted noise. “Not everyone has the talent.”

“Some of us just suck at it.” Robert chuckled.

“Wait, she roped you in to?” Twilight asked.

“I've roped most of the town in by now. One way or another, everyone takes a shot. Of course in Caramel's case, he spent all day taking shots. Not a one paid off.” she grinned. “Anyway, I was working the front counter, when in comes Lyra. She's got her lyre hung over her back, and that grin on her face. I knew she was going to be trouble from day one. Worst of all, you know how to meet a new unicorn, and you don't find out their special spell right away?” Twilight nodded. Robert shrugged. He didn't know that.

“Not Lyra. Oh no. She walks in, munching on a donut of all things.” Bon-bon shook her head.

“Donut Joe's Mint Jelly.” Twilight flicked a glance around at the empty cart as she wiped drool away.

“They are to die for.” Bon-bon admitted. “I found out later that Smooth Taste makes the jelly that Joe uses. Of course I didn't know it then. I'm all set to yell at her for bringing in someone else's food, when Smooth walks out, and comes right up to her like his long-lost daughter. He tells me to get her whatever she needs and disappears into the back room. So I'm left with this weird, wayward unicorn, treated like a favorite daughter. The first thing she asks me? 'Got any mint?' That's his specialty. The thing he make more than anything else.” she shook her head.

“So not love at first sight?” Twilight asked.

“Your sister-in-law would have needed some serious backup. So no, no love at first sight. But she kept coming back, and a couple of times she didn't buy anything. So I asked her what she wanted that we didn't seem to have.” Bon-bon paused, a smile on her face.

“And she said what?” Twilight prompted, noticing they were nearly there.

“A list of what you're doing after work.” Bon-bon laughed. “The weirdest way I've been asked out, but as you can see, it worked.” she grinned.

“No pony ever asks my after work schedule.” Twilight pouted.

“Because they know. The same thing you do during your work hours.” Bon-bon laughed.

“Organizing the books.” the other two said in chorus, causing Twilight to blush.

---

The seats were surprisingly good. Instead of being down in the back row, as Robert had expected, they were ushered up into the boxes surrounding the edges of the theater. In fact they were only two boxes away from Celestia and Luna. Twilight excused herself to say hello before the show started. She came back just before the show began.

“Luna says hello.” Twilight told him, as she settled on her bench.

“Glad to hear it.” he replied.

“They've invited us to join them after the show. They're hosting a dinner for the performers.” Twilight informed him. “I can't be there long if I'm going to get home and be awake to help Rarity go.”

“No worries. I'll bet they'll understand. Just make an appearance, have a word with the performers, and then leave. If anyone asks I'll tell them you had important princess stuff to do. Like filing your crown, and polishing your books.” It took her a moment to catch on.

“Don't do that, or I'll never hear the end of it.” she laughed.

“Where would you file it? C for Crown? T for Tiara? Or perhaps G for Gold?” he asked curiously.

Twilight opened her mouth to answer, but the curtain began to lift. “M for Mine.” she whispered, then concentrated on the stage.

“Mares and gentlecolts, it is my pleasure and honor to be tonight's master of ceremonies.” Fancy Pants horn glowed faintly as he projected his voice out over the seats of the concert hall. “Our first performer tonight is a violist from Manehattan. Please welcome Silver Strings.” hooves thudded applause as a silver coated unicorn came out, and began to play. He was good, no doubt about it, but up in the seats, the pair had to keep waking one another up.

“No more.” Twilight whispered at one point. Ellegies were fine at funerals or somber events, but terrible for staying awake. She glanced toward Celestia and found she was sleeping. Not many ponies would have been able to tell the difference, but Twilight had given enough boring lectures in her time to recognize when her mentor was doing her 'sleeping with eyes open' technique. Finally, the interminable songs came to an end, and Fancy returned to the stage, not bothering to hide a yawn.

“Pardon me, but I have been staying up late recently. Organizing such a riveting concert takes considerable effort.” he said, clearly making things up on the fly. “Our next performer is... Miss Lyra Heartstrings of Ponyville.” the applause was much weaker this time, more of the audience being awoken by it's sound than participating in it.

Lyra appeared on stage, and settled herself. Several members recognized her from other events, and perked their heads up. They were more than a little startled when she did not produce her lyre, but instead pulled out the flute she'd practiced with. Twilight saw a handful of griffons in the box between her and the royal sisters perk up.

“This mares and gentlecolts, is a commissioned composition. Gene Wildhen has graciously granted permission for me to play it.” she closed her eyes, and her horn glowed. Hands reached up and formed, grasping the flute. She lifted it to her mouth. The first notes came out slow, searching, and parts of the audience adjusted themselves for another nap. Then the song began to rise, increasing in pitch and tempo, until the song began to soar. Note after note, faster and faster until it reached a crescendo. Then it came almost, but not quite to a stop, then fell down. It began to build speed now, then the song changed, shifting direction somehow. On and on it continued. Eventually it slowed, then at the last instant, the notes played again, in a precise reversal of those that preceded, then the song had one last beat, and stopped. For a moment, the hall was silent, then applause flooded the place.

Twilight even noticed the princesses applauding enthusiastically. She added hers. She flicked a glance at Robert beside her, who'd been silent the entire time. He seemed to still be listening to the melody, swaying gently back and forth.

Two more performers came out. One with a Guitar, and one with a set of drums. The former reminded her of Applejack and she was later completely unsurprised to learn that it was a distant relative. The latter she had no frame of reference for, but she did know one thing. She was not a fan. Worse, it was another slow melody, which meant that half the place was falling asleep, when it suddenly turned into something hard and driving, and woke them up. It would have been clever, had it not been in the middle of a night concert. As it was, it was a miracle that the poor stallion wasn't driven off the stage.

Fancy Pants came back to the stage. “And that was Dingo Stars with a drum solo.” he shook his head. “Now for the main event you've been waiting all night for, Miss Octavia Melody.” the gray coated earth pony cellist took the stage, thanking both Fancy Pants for his introduction, and the stage hand for bringing out her cello. She sat and took a moment to tune the instrument, then looked out over the audience. Then she picked up her bow, and began to play. Her first song was surprisingly lively, and lightened the mood considerably. She played for what seemed like hours, before stopping.

Robert had been listening to the music as the first few musicians played. He had expected to do the same when Octavia began to play. But his eyes opened as he began her first song. He watched, for most of that song. He could feel magic resonating in time with her bow. During the second song, he invoked his sight, and realized he was wrong. The magic wasn't just resonating. It was coming from the music. The act of playing was generating music. He listened through the rest of the music, even though it made his fangs ache to be channeling magic. He could understand her popularity now. But he couldn't say for certain if he was correct. Then she presented an opportunity.

“I am informed that I have time for one more song. I have not prepared anything, so I am willing to take a request.”

“Moonlight Serenade.” Robert's voice was crystal clear over the crowd, magic lacing it. She knew the song, naturally. Every pony in Equestria knew the song though not all of them would understand why. The afficiandoes in the room, and the Twilight Sparkles would, and would also understand why it had spent more than a thousand years under a moratorium. It was the Equestrian national anthem, Ode to the Sun, but played two notes lower, and at one quarter the speed. While the Ode had words, written after the fact, Moonlight Serenade did not.

Twilight stared at Robert as if insanity had gripped him. Octavia stared at him for a moment, then looked askance at Princess Celestia. For a moment, nothing happened, then Celestia nodded almost imperceptibly, visible only to Octavia. And certainly not to her sister, who's rapt attention was held only by Octavia. The cellist spent a moment, tuning her instrument. Then she lay her bow on the strings, took a breath, and began.

From the first note it was clear that this song was not like any of the others, even Lyra's soaring composition. Magic sang in the air as she played. Yet it was not merely the sound. It was the way she played. The song was intended to be slow. Adagio to Ode's Allegro. Yet she played even slower. While it was meant to be a serenade celebrating the night's beauty, Octavia played it as a love ballad. Those who were not lost already in the song noticed a flickering around the room. The glow of unicorn horns sparking spontaneously to life. Pegasus wings fluttered, itching to be in the air, feeling and manipulating the air currents. Earth pony hooves sought the ground, the few there found themselves standing without really understanding why. The longer the song went the stronger the feeling became, horns flaring with unnoticed light as all present were lost in the song. The song lasted until long after the intended end of the concert, until one final note hung for minutes in the air. There was no dry eye in the house, not even the princess of the sun immune to it, though she was stoic even in that. Luna wept, head buried in her sister's shoulder. Up on the stage, Octavia collapsed, caught by a quick to recover Fancy Pants. She lay on the stage, panting from the exertion.

Twilight looked to Robert, as she rubbed her own tears. His fur was matted down, and darkened until it looked as though he'd been crying blood. “What was that?” she asked, throat dry, and voice rough.

“The power...” he swallowed. “The Power of a True Bard.” he answered.

---

“You felt it as well?” Celestia asked the pair as the four of them approached the dressing room.

“How could we not?” Twilight asked.

“I have not felt such power in ages.” Luna admitted. “Even before my exile.”

“They are rare.” Celestia admitted.

“What is?” Twilight asked.

“True Bards.” Celestia replied. “Unicorns, and Alicorns use magic directly.” her horn flickered. “Pegasi use it in their own way.” her wings fluttered. “And Earth ponies are connected to magic through the ground itself.” she flexed her legs. “But magic is something which while it cannot be used up per say, does slowly get absorbed into objects.”

“I know that.” Twilight nodded. “So?”

“Bards, or rather those who have bardic talent, create magic. Whether through art, or storytelling, or music. As they create, sculpt or play, magic is generated. While there are many with talent, there are few True Bards. Most bards must create something original to make new magic. True Bards must simply feel what they are doing. We have seen one such tonight.”

“Octavia?” Twilight asked. Celestia nodded. “Does she know?”

“I highly doubt it. Let us inform her.” she reached out, and tapped against the door.

“I'm not doing autographs tonight. The manager will give you a voucher.” came a female voice from behind the door. It sounded tired.

“I am not here for an autograph.” Celestia answered. There was a crash, and a moment later, a slightly disheveled and still tired looking Octavia appeared behind the open door.

“I'm sorry Princess, I thought you were... never mind. Come in, please.” she backed up and let three princesses into her room. Robert stuck his head in, and looked around.

“I will wait in the hall, and keep away interrupters.” he closed the door behind him. Octavia, suddenly aware she was in the presence of a perhaps overwhelming amount of royalty, collapsed back to the couch.

“I am sorry.” she managed after a moment.

“For what?” Twilight asked.

“The song. I thought you said it was okay.” she looked at Celestia.

“I did. That is not why we are here. Not precisely.” Celestia paused.

“Sister? What is she talking about?” Luna asked.

“For the thousand years of your exile, I asked no one play Moonlight Serenade. I was too saddened at your loss to hear it without breaking down. And I wanted very much to be strong for them.” Celestia admitted. “Octavia is the first pony in a thousand years to play the song.”

“Oh, sister.” Luna leaned against Celestia for a moment. “Thank you Octavia, for playing our song so beautifully.”

“You are welcome your highness. If you are not angry, then why are you here?” the cellist asked.

“The song is the reason. You were asked to play because the song was written not long after the founding to be played by bards. It's melody was chosen to maximize their potential to create. To create the magic we used to forge Equestria.” Celestia replied. Then she explained about bards.

“You think I'm one? What does that mean?” Octavia paused. “Talent... you mean?”

“No.” Celestia shook her head. “Your talent is because you were meant to be a musician. Your skill is because you practice and practice well. Bards are rare, True Bards rarer still. Star swirl studied them, and still we know no more than he did. Whether you were destined to be a bard, or if your talent simply drew the gift to you, we cannot know.” Celestia sighed. “But we are glad to know the gift has not faded away.”

“So what does this mean?” Octavia asked. “Do I need to do anything?”

“Simply continue to play.” Celestia answered. “As you play, you make new magic, and renew what has been absorbed into the world.”

“Be proud Octavia Melody. You have dreamed of making a contribution to Equestria and you have succeeded.” Luna smiled. Octavia started.

“That was you, in the night mare.” Luna nodded. The others waited. “I had a nightmare, that I was laughed out of the music hall for not playing anything new. I play, but I'm not a composer. I simply have to put my own touch on music. Luna appeared, and broke the grip of the nightmare. I never thought...”

“You are welcome.” Luna said. “Come, let us leave her to her rest.” They started towards the door.

“Princess?” Octavia paused, unsure who to ask. “Will this always leave me drained?”

“No. Each time the effects will be less as your gift strengthens. For now it is new and wild and so it saps your strength more because it does not know it. Eventually it will become no more than another part of the normal exhaustion of having played.” Celestia replied. “Do not worry.”

“Thank you.”