I found myself tugging at my bolo a bit, as I stood there on the side stage. Two alicorn princesses stood next to me, Twilight and Cadence. Looking across the large stage, I could see Luna and Celestia in the wings of stage left, waiting for their que to start.

“Shane, stop messing with it, you look fine, you will do just fine,” the pink alicorn of love commented as her magic lit up and fixed what I had messed up for the nine thousandth time.

“Easy for you to say, you ain’t got to stand out there in front of God knows how many ponies and gryphons and…” I paused “well, all manner of creature, and try to not make a fool of yourself.”

I was glancing slightly down so I caught purple dorkicorn roll her eyes before she adjusted her wings. “You have every note card, I checked my lists five times, then five more times with you.” Her wing lifted and she gestured to the numbered boxes of note cards. All I had to do was pick the number that went with the next stage act I was introducing, and read.

I chuckled. “And at least five more times reminding me of it,” I said, feeling her effort to relax me working.

She gave a slight smirk. “Oh, and I’m sure the two shots of whiskey didn’t hurt any, did it?”

Cadence blinked and looked over at her sister in law, then to me, and then back to the smaller alicorn. “You, both drank?” a little surprise was in her tone.

Twilight turned to look at her former foalsitter and gave a nod. “Just a shot or two. It’s kind of become a tradition between the Rangers and, well, I find myself enjoying it too.”

I started to chuckle as Cadence shook her head with a smile. “Next thing, you know we will find out you have a coltfriend or two on the side, and that you all throw wild salt parties in the dead of night.”

Twilight spluttered and started to defend herself, but love pony just laughed to show she was just ribbing her sister in law.

I was going to add in, but an earth pony with a mic for a cutie mark came up near us. “Princesses, we start in twenty seconds.” Watching both of them nod, he trotted off to do whatever it was stagehands do.

“I wish Jackie was back here,” I muttered. Missing the look and smile the two mares next to me shared with each other.

Cadence looked back at me “Shane, for all the teasing and,” she gave a cough “inappropriate questions I have asked; I really am happy for you both.”

The pit orchestra started to play as I glanced over at her while focusing on my performance ahead. “Thank you, Cadence. Well, here we go.”

---

Soft music played the four princesses out into the limelight, they all met in the center and turned to the crowd. I remained in the wings and watched. Celestia lifted her hoof to gently bring the applause and hoof stomps to a stop. “Good evening everypony, and good evening to our guests from all across Equuis.”

Luna spoke next. “Tonight, we gather on the shortest night before the longest day. As tradition, we stay awake to thank the stars and moon, and greet my sisters’ sun as it raises to bring forth a new day.”

Next it was Cadence who spoke. “But this night, we celebrate something new. Something no pony, gryphon, no creature has ever heard in this world.”

Twilight lifted her head and spoke with a strong voice. “Tonight, we gather to hear the music from across time and space, from another world, another universe so much like our own, yet different.”

Celestia spoke once more. “Just under two years ago, a creature none had ever seen came to us. He was hurt, lost, and alone. Now, many of us here,” she swept her wing across the audience, “call this creature friend.”

Luna, again, spoke up. “He has brought us new ideas, new ways of looking at old problems.”

Cadence smiled brightly as she continued. “Most of all, he has brought music; and tonight, he shares that with us all.”

Twilight turned and looked at me with that big bright smile of hers and looked back to the open amphitheater.

“Please, will you all welcome, Ranger Shane McDonald, of the Human species?!”

That was my cue. So, as the music came up again, I started walking out. I reached up and tugged my hat down a bit, and then fingered the cards I was carrying. Walking out to stand where Luna and Celesita had made room for me, now center among all four of them, Cadence at celestia’s left and Twilight at Luna’s right.

Looking up, I paused, I was the center of attention, with what must be 1000 ponies, and a good two or three hundred other species all looking at me and applauding!

I muttered under my breath a classic ‘fuck me’ from the stress and got a hard wing to the back of my upper thigh from Celestia for it, hidden behind her ruffling her wings in faux exitement.

Clearing my throat, I reached out and took the mic from the stand, as the applauding grew quieter and ended.

“T-thank you all,” I started reading from what Twilight had so thoughtfully wrote out for me. I found myself reading the card, then glanced back up. I exhaled and tossed the card over my shoulder, where it fluttered and bounced off Luna’s back onto the ground. I did hear her huff at me even as a light round of laughter rippled across the huge crowd.

“You know what, lets wing it. Hello to everyone here, and to all the ponies and other creatures listening live to this broadcast on their radios.”

I glanced at Twilight, who despite looking slightly peeved I was going off script, did smile and gesture with her hoof for me to continue.

“Tonight, groups, individuals, and even myself will come out and play music. Music from the world I came from. There is, however, more to this night.”

Gesturing to the whole center of the amphitheater and the dozens of ponies in uniforms, in armor, or off duty with families. Gesturing up to the many cloud seats where pegasi from the Guard, and the few the Wonderbolts and their reserves proudly sat.

“Tonight, we honor the sacrifice all of them give, and gave. The duty and honor they uphold so the rest of us may go about our lives in relative safety. Back on my world, in my country, we held our service men and women in the highest regards. Tonight, I want to share some of that view, in the form of music. I, myself, have no clue what others have picked to play, so I will be as surprised as the rest of you.”

I smiled a little and reached up ,adjusting my hat. I could see up in the ‘royal’ seating area, all of the girls, including my Jackie.

“Music, for humans at least, represents the oldest form of communication. We create music to sing to the Gods we believe in, to express our emotions from love to hate, from joy to sorrow, and everything in between. We have music that is silly and is made to be laughed at, and we have music that is filled with messages deep enough to make you sit back and think. Whatever tonight brings, please, sit back, relax, and enjoy our journey into my part of the world’s culture.”

As the applause and clomping started up again, I had to admit; I didn’t wing that last part, it was what I remembered from the cards. Turning, I walked off the stage as the lights went off and a set of curtains came down to hide the stage for setup of the first set.

“That was really well worded, Shane. We found your ad libbing to be quite fitting, despite your assault on my body with flying cards.”

I laughed and gave luna a grin.

---

Standing back at stage right, I picked up card one and flipped it over to read what I was supposed to say. Once more the curtain started to rise and the pit orchestra started to play. I walked out as the lights came up enough to see a lone mic. At the back of the stage hung down a massive soft blue flag with the Celestial Sisters on it; the Equestrian flag.

Walking up to the mic, I bent down and slid it from the stand, rather than try to adjust its height. Once more the crowd calmed and I spoke up.

“Fillies and Gentelcolts,” you know that really leaves a lot of folks out, I don’t like that. “And others from around the world. Will you please rise for the Equestrian National Anthem, tonight sung for us by none other,” I paused and gestured to stage left as a spotlight came on and a mare started to walk out, “than Countess Coloratura!”

I gently slid the mic back into the stand and moved back over to the side stage out of view. Once more, I heard one of the stage hands muttering. “I really wish you would let us do wardrobe changes for you, Ranger.”

I chuckled. “No thanks, this suit fits me fine, and no, I ain’t getting rid of my hat.” He stomped the floor, but otherwise say nothing.

Out on stage, the orchestra started to play a familiar tune and a voice I remember brought a fond memory of happy times with my little girl.

I happened to glance out the edge of the side stage to see not a single pony, a single gryphon, not anyone of any species sitting. All were standing even the princesses now back up in the ‘royal booth’ area.

I, of course, had my hat off and placed over my heart. My eyes turned back to the large flag at the back of the stage. No, I was not born under this flag, but this is my home now, and that feeling of pride taught to all of us as kids in America was still reminding me of pride in country, in duty, and life.

As the roar of the crowd once more started up, I slid my hat back up on my crown and turned to walk back out on stage when a unicorn with a clip board held up his hoof. “One second, Ranger”

Out on stage, Rara was holding up a hoof to quiet everyone. She leaned forward and spoke. “Thank you all, thank you all so much. However, tonight, it is my honor and my joy to give our host of the night, a surprise.” Turning her head she motioned. “Sweetie Belle?” I glanced across the stage as the small white unicorn came trotting out in a very pretty flowing dress. Her cheeks alight with blush as Rara lowered the mic stand and gave the filly a light hug. Gesturing her forward while stepping behind.

The poor girl’s voice squeaked a bit when she started, halting her, then she cleared her throat. “R-ranger McDonald will, you come out here please?”

I lifted an eyebrow, then started walking over to her, unsure of what was going on.

“A bunch of ponies all got together when the plans for this show tonight started. We all worked together to create this surprise,” then she gave a soft nod of her head and turned around. I turned my head to follow her gaze to the back of the stage.

Lowering down on wires, was… I felt my heart in my throat. It wasn’t perfect, clearly hand stitched, but there she was, Old Glory herself! The flag was smaller than the Equestrian flag, and was lowered half down the bigger flags height. I had to swallow hard to control the lump now lodged in my throat.

Again, that young filly’s voice spoke into the mic. “The flag of Ah-Mare’eeca, 13 stripes, and fifty stars represent the home country of Ranger McDonald. 13 stripes for the 13 states that founded it, fifty stars; one for each state in their union.”

‘Ok, someone has been reading the history book I gifted to Twilight when I first came here,’ I thought.

“While Shane is a citizen of our country now,” she smiled and I looked away from the flag back to the little unicorn, smiling back weakly as I fought my emotions, “we wanted to honor and remember his first home, and the second song of the night. So, will you all please stand again for the United States of Ah-Mare’eeca national anthem.”

That lump just was not going away as I shot a glance up to where all four princesses rose to their hooves. A very smug look on Luna’s face and a knowing smile on the white witch’s face once more she was ten moves in front of me.

I turned and looked to the flag as Sweetie Belle’s voice started up, along with the orchestra once more. I snatched my hat from my head and covered my heart with it, trying not to tremble or let the moment get too emotional. Really they had all just gone way, way too far to do something nice for me.

I didn’t take my eyes off the flag, but I found myself moving my lips to the song.

I knew the part coming up was hard for a seasoned singer. I found my eyes slide to the right and glance at the little filly, her eyes shut, her mouth open. She was giving her all and not holding back.

I felt my heart soar; I wanted to yell in joy and cry in the swirl of emotions that welled up in me. The little white unicorn filly nailed the uptick of the song. An uptick that has thwarted many a singer, yet she belted it out like she had been doing this all her life!

I slammed my hat back on and started to clap as hard as I could, joining in with thousands of hooves stomping, claws banging together, hoots, hollars, and all manner of celebration for performance of a lifetime. Poor Sweetie was more pink than white, right up to the moment an orange blur slammed into her, followed by a yellow streak with a red bow, all being chased by a stagehand.

Applause changed to laughter as the three friends ended up in a huge hug pile. Laughing themselves as the two other crusaders congratulated their friend. I glanced over to Rara, who smiled and gestured, so I picked up the mic and waved away the stagehands, telling them to back off.

“Well, Equestria, in case you have not met them; these are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. Crusaders… hey, you three!” I paused as they looked up and realized where they were, they jumped to their hooves all blushing. “Crusaders, this,” I gestured, “is all of Equestria”

More laughter, more applause as three fillies bowed. The curtains started to come down and we retired to stage right.

“Mr. Mcdo… sorry, Shane. D-did you like it?” Sweetie Belle asked while looking up at me with big hopeful eyes.

I got down on one knee and put my hand on her neck lightly. “Sweetie Belle, it was the most wonderful surprise I have ever had. You sung it perfect, there are many from my world who would praise your rendition of it.”

I leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, making her blush hard again, then she start to giggle, joining the giggles of the other two CMC members. I looked up at Rara and smiled. “Thank you.”

She shook her head. “It was her talent, I just helped her learn the lines of the song after Princess Twilight let us practice it.”

I made a mental note to thank her too, and I suspect Luna must have done a little spying to pitch in her own two cents. I wasn’t going to make an issue of it if she did do a little dream spying, this was a pretty cool surprise.

“Ok girls, let's clear the backstage so they can set up for the next act.”

I watched the three fillies and Rara walk off, glancing to the stage hand who smiled. “Be ready in ten, Sir.”

After hearing the song of my home, the joy it brought others, and the feelings it stirred inside me; I was not only going to enjoy the rest of the night, but I was gonna spend some quality time with my marefriend to let off some steam, too. It was gonna be a great night.