So far that dipshit Murphy had been leaving the event alone. If he knew what was good for him, he would keep doing just that.

After my first song, I had taken a walk out from behind the stage to say hi to ponies and perhaps smooch a kiss from my girlfriend. No, Twi, I will not call her my marefriend, thank you. Captain Cross and Dusty were one of the first I bumped into. Little Burnished toddled up to me as foals his age will do. I got down on one knee, laughing as he called me the name he had since the first day I met him. “Holber! Holber!”

Kids, they are the same, no matter the species. I scooped him up in my arms and had one under him for support while I talked with the adults. Even at this small and early age the little earth pony foal must be a good forty pounds.

“Shane, that song was really something,” Dusty said, leaning on Cross.

Glancing at the little unicorn foal, who was tapping my leg to get my attention too, I squatted back down to get closer to her and her tiny voice. “Thank you, Dusty, it has always been in my top twenty favorites. Hello, Bright Spark. Are you enjoying the music?”

Bright Spark gave a nod of her head. “It’s the best, Uncle Shane!” I laughed. She had taken up calling me uncle about six months ago and I saw no reason to dissuade her from that.

I glanced at Cross, then back to his daughter. “Did you remember to take a nap so you can make it all the way to the morning?” I asked Bright Spark.

Bright Spark smiled brightly and nodded her head. “Yep, momma made me lay down with Burnished and we took a nap.”

I gave Bright Spark a serious nod. “Being a good big sister is important, like keeping an eye on your little brother. I am proud of you.” I said, making her blush and beam with a proud little smile.

Standing up, gave Burnished a little kiss on his forehead, then handed him to Cross. “Enjoy the rest of the show, Cap. I’ll be up here next week for our meeting,” I said. Cross gave me a nod and I turned, walking to my next point.

Heading up the stairs, I got stopped a few times by various ponies. By the time I got to the entrance to the Royal Box, I had spent a good ten minutes getting there. The two Lunar Guards at the entrance bowed their heads and allowed me entry.

I had to admit that the Princesses had some snazzy digs. A large open area for socializing, an open bar, a vegetarian buffet because of course, and a door I suspect was a private bathroom.

There were a good thirty ponies up here with guards along the walls keeping watch. Dash was by Twilight and Luna, off by a wall. Celestia was talking with General Burning Bridge, the green earth pony and I had a bit of a rough start; however he had apologized and we made peace, now we spoke professionally on my trips up to Canterlot or when he needed the Rangers to look into something that was outside his troops purview.

I spotted Pinkie, who pronked over to me. It still amazes me how she can literally bounce on all four hooves like they were made of springs so much without getting hurt or tired. I was just about to ask her if she had seen Jackie when Pinkie smirked. bounced up, put a forehoof on my chin , and turned my head to the left.

There I found a set of green eyes attached to the most beautiful gal I knew, just before a set of lips pressed to mine.

I heard a few snorts and ‘aww’s before the kiss broke. Somehow, Jackie had snuck up, set up a small box, and got up on it, all without me hearing or seeing her. I did note one thing, a particular love alicorn with a warm smile and a glow about her I had never seen before.

“Well, I guess I can’t complain too much about a welcome like that, can I?” I said sheepishly as I ran my hand along Jackie’s neck and mane.

Jackie blushed and reached up to her hat, tugging it down to cover her eyes and cheeks. “Ya’ll don’t be getting use to that,” Jackie said, causing me and a few others who knew her opinion on public displays of affection to chuckle. Anything more than a nuzzle was a bit embarrassing for my mare, bless her heart.

“How is everyone?” I asked, interjecting before Twilight could correct me. “Shut up, Twilight,” I said loudly, smirking at her as she stuck her orange tongue out at me. “Is everypony enjoying the show so far?”

A chorus of compliments and affirmations came from all gathered. Luna broke away from her conversation and smiled when she reached me. “I must attend to a few things, I do hope I can get back without missing too much of the music, Shane. It’s quite a delightful show.”

“You can’t put this off?” I asked her, resisting the urge to nervously rub the back of my neck.

Luna shook her head with a sad look. “No, I am afraid not; the duty of the night does not wait for anypony. Be well, Shane, fare thee well, Fair Applejack.” Luna bid us goodbye as she left and headed out the door with two guards in tow.

I glanced over to Cadence, gesturing to Jackie before heading to her. I noticed Shining wasn’t around. Flurry Heart was fighting sleep while resting on her mother’s back while holding a snail plushie.

Cadence smiled when I reached her. “Good evening, Shane, Applejack. I must say that that was quite the greeting you gave your coltfriends, Applejack.” Cadence was smirking the whole while getting Jackie to blush brightly.

I glanced around the room. “Where’s Shining?” I asked.

Cadence sighed. “At work, I’m afraid. It’s one of the downsides of being married to a soldier that still holds duty under Princess Celestia until she releases him from his position.” Cadence said she smiled weakly at me.

I decided to change the subject. “You look radiant tonight, Cadence.”

Celestia spoke from beside me, startling me a little. “As she always should, Shane; especially with the emotions your music has stirred tonight.”

I lifted an eyebrow and tilted my head. “What my aunt means is that the more love there is around me, the stronger I get. Just like during the day, Celestia is at her strongest. At moonrise, Luna’s power come into its own.” Cadence said and then glanced over at the purple alicorn, who was now talking with Rarity and Fluttershy just a few feet away.

“And I don’t think I need to say what friendship does for the Princess of Friendship,” Cadence finished.

I rolled that over in my head for a bit, then gave a nod. “I guess that makes a certain amount of sense when put in that context,” I said smiling.

Spike walked to us and tugged my pants leg. I looked down at him, extending down my right hand as a fist and getting a claw bump from him. “What’s up, Spike?” I asked.

Spike gestured to the doorway I’d entered through. “Shane, one of the stagehooves said it is almost time for the next act.”

I blinked and reached into my pocket, pulling out my pocket watch. The one that was a gift from Rarity to replace the one destroyed in the duel. There was an inscription on the inside of the cover that said: ‘May this watch protect you too - Rarity’. It was one of my more cherished possessions. After glancing at the time, I snapped the cover closed and tucked it back into my pocket with care.

“Thank you, buddy” I said and got a smile from the young drake.

I exhaled, turning to the mares. “Ladies, if you would pardon me, I have duties to perform,” I excused myself, giving the edge of my Stetson a tug in respect to them. I leaned down and lifted off Jackie’s hat, kissed her head quickly, and put her hat back on before she could grab it or shove me. I whispered and made sure she could read my lips. “I Love you.”

She blushed and tilted her head back, rubbing her snout along my cheek. “I love you, too.” When I stood up I noticed the pink alicorn trembling with a big smile on her face. Where had I seen that look before? I wondered

Pinkie! She does the same thing when excited for something… perhaps it’s a pink pony thing?

With a nod to the mare I loved, I headed out and made my way back down to the stage.

I stood on side stage rocked gently to the beat of the song being played. Hearing a rather large group of ponies playing such an iconic song was heartwarming. However, to see them doing it justice, and to see the crowd enjoying it too was just the best.

Up on the stage, a green earth pony with dark and light shades of orange in dense dreadlocked mane and tail was holding an acoustic guitar and singing her heart out in a melodic but slow pace. With her were twelve other ponies, eachone of them had a hippy vibe about them; not that it really bothered me.

The song was seven minutes long and I was among the ones to applaud loudly for them, walking out on stage as I did with a smile on my face to match all the ponies in the audience. I picked up the mic and waited a few times for the roar in the stands to die down.

“In the Earth year of 1976, a band known as The Eagles hit the charts of the music scene with this song, called ‘Hotel California’. The lyrics mean a lot of different things to different folks. The band itself bridged the gap between almost all cultures, one of the first to do so, in fact.”

I gestured behind me. “Tonight’s version was brought to you by Tree Hugger and,” I paused and gestured around to the band, “The Preservers!” I said loudly before holding the mic out to the hippy dippy pony. She walked forward and leaned up to speak into the microphone.

“Like, thank you all for the righteous applause, and stuff. We are all totally blown away by it,” Tree Hugger said like she was as high as a kite.

I chuckled as she held a hoof up to me. I extended my fist down to hers, bumping her hoof. She and the band started to clean up and the curtain lowered once more.

“Like, we all wanted to say thank you for sharing your music with us, human dude.” Another pony, a kind of light grey unicorn stallion with black mane said.

I gave him a nod. “Not a problem, it was nice to hear a classic from my youth played,” I said, earning me a smile from most of the band members in hearing range.

Ok, I will be the first to admit, when I first met the pony on stage I had him pegged as an airheaded Justin Bieber ripoff. I mean, from the mane cut to his scrawny frame, to the name…Feather Bangs,really?

However, right now I was watching him do a very good pony version of the moonwalk while he belted out one of the King of Pop’s top songs. I really have to give the kid credit, he was doing the song justice.

I watched him come up on his hind hooves and spin, spreading out his front legs, throwing his head back. Somehow he nailed it, despite never having seen what Michael Jackson’s act was like. He was absolutely nailing it. It was yet another thing about this world that confuses the fuck out of me from time to time.

The mares in the crowd were going absolutely nuts. When the pony came to the end of the song, breathing hard, you couldn’t hear yourself think with all the screams and applause the mares were giving him.

I walked out on stage, picking up the mic once more and waited before lifting my arm up to calm folks down. It took almost a minute before I could and in that time the blond pony had trotted over to stand next to me, still working on catching his breath.

Finally, I could talk and I glanced down at him. “Well, I have to say that was an absolute shocker to me. First of all, the song just sung, was written, produced, and sung by a young man known across the world I am from known as the King of Pop. No single musician has ever, or likely will ever, be as well known or well loved as Michael Jackson was.”

I paused then continued. “The year was 1982 and the songs name is Billie Jean. It rocketed to the top of the charts and deserved its place.” I gestured down to the blushing stallion next to me. “It is my honor to introduce you all to the young ma… sorry, stallion who put his all into that act… Feather Bangs,” I said. The stallion flipped his head and sent his bangs up and back down.

Mares screamed, fillies fainted, a few in guard uniforms even broke and gave him looks I would only give Jackie in private. I watched the stallion just blush and try to hide behind his mane instead of gloating or boasting. His humbleness didn’t look to be an act as he waved to the crowd and the curtain came down once more.

Feather Bangs looked up at me. “Ranger McDonald, Sir?” He asked and I glanced down at him.

I held up a hand to halt him. “Please, call me Shane.”

Feather Bangs gave a nod in understanding. “Did I do it right, the song that is?”

I nodded to him. “I think Michael Jackson would have been quite proud, kid”

That earned me a genuine smile and mane flip.

I was a bit confused by the next act as even I had been pushed out of the side wings of the stage and down some. There was some top secret hush hush going on over this next act. I played along. I mean, why not? It seemed someone...- somepony, screw you purple, went to a lot of trouble to do this.

Darkness filled the stage as the curtain lifted. You could see hints of the band and some pony standing center stage, but that was it.

A slow beat kicked on starting with drums and an electric guitar. The music began picking up tempo as bright colored lights lit up the stage and the band, yet darkness covered the pony in the center.

Then a voice began to sing as the lights pushed that darkness away to expose... Luna?! She was dressed in what I can only say was the hottest looking outfit I had ever seen!

Under a lovers' sky
Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well, just wait until
'Til the sun goes down

There was absolute silence other than the music while the lunar princess herself was belting out a LeAnn Rimes song! She spun in place as the tempo kicked up and I had enough presence of mind to note she was looking right at one pony as she sung. One Lunar Thestrial Captain I knew pretty well.

Underneath the starlight, starlight
There's a magical feeling, so right
It'll steal your heart tonight

Then the beat took its uptick and she spun. It really was absolutely jaw dropping to see her like this. At the first part of the next verse the crowd went bonkers! I heard a loud voice exclaim “Sister!?” at the same time that two voices from the same area up in the royal box blurted out loud enough for all to hear “Luna?!”

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart

While the whole crowd was loud; it was the lunar ponies and guards that were the loudest. All of them screaming and hooting like animals. All but one. One stood there with his bat like wings snapped out, eyes glowing and opened wide. His jaw hanging open in shock, as he stood still in a stupor.. Poor Night Shade, I wonder if he knew what he was in for.

There's no escape from love
Once a gentle breeze
Weaves its spell upon your heart
No matter what you think
It won't be too long
'Til you're in my arms
Underneath the starlight, starlight
We'll be lost in the rhythm, so right
Feel it steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No you can't fight it
No matter what you do
The night is gonna get to you

A hoof hooked under my chin and pushed my jaw up. I blinked and glanced down to see Raven smirking as she gestured for me to go back to watching. Now I took in the whole stage. Lyra was once again behind the strings of the steel guitar, a few others I knew were in the band. However, the three backup singers... hell I knew them too!

Two of them were lunar ponies, one a lunar unicorn mare, the other a lunar earth pony mare. I kind of knew them, at least enough to recognize them both as part of Luna’s First Battalion. The center pony, however, was not only a surprise, but a shock. Golden herself stood up there, belting out the music along with her fellow backup singers.

The whole time it was pretty damn clear who Luna was singing to. Her eyes and gestures never left the poor stallion frozen in place down among his troops. The instrumental part kicked in as the backup singers joined in louder.

Don't try then
You're never gonna win

Luna swung around, all but ignoring all the cheers and hoots going on, she did smirk at the amphitheater crowd before returning her eyes to her captain.

Underneath the starlight, starlight
There's a magical feeling, so right
It will steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it

I gave a low grunt and just said, “You knew,” I told Raven as a statement, not a question. Raven just kept her smirk and said one word.

“Yep.” We watched the Lunar Princess, as she poured her heart and soul into not only a song, but a message to one pony out of all of them.

You can try to resist (you can try to resist my kiss)
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
Don't you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart

The song ended and you couldn’t even hear yourself think. I wonder what it was like for all the ponies and other creatures listening to this on radio. Would they understand the words, would they understand just how much of herself Luna put out there to do that. How brave she was? I knew; I knew well how far she had stood out in the limelight and dared.

Raven poked me and I got moving; climbing back up on stage and grabbing my mic. I waited, I was not going to interrupt the moment for Luna. Up in the Royal Box the cheers were doubled, to steal Luna’s line. Celestia was going absolutely insane screaming, a smile wide enough to be seen from here on her face.

Twilight a little less so, but still bouncing in place. Pink alicorn, however, was glowing. No, I mean it; she was glowing like a bright pink lantern. Her wings spread wide and a smile as bright as the sun was on her muzzle.

Finally, I cleared my throat and held up my hands to get some calm going. I waited longer before I could get a word in.

“W-well, I… I don’t know where to start. I guess first, the song,. The year was 2000. The artist is a well known country singer named LeAnn Rimes, who brought a rock and pop style together bringing us ‘Can’t Stop the Moonlight’.” I glanced over at Luna, who was blushing hot along her cheeks, but she wasn’t looking at me. She wasn’t looking at the crowd, her eyes were locked on her captain. I glanced down at him and likewise, his eyes were locked on her. I cleared my throat.

“Tonight, it was brought to you by our own Lunar Princess. Give a huge round of applause for Princess Luna!” Again the ponies and others went nuts, and again it was the lunar ponies among them being the loudest.

Once more it took time to calm all of them down before Luna stepped forward. I held the mic for her as she cleared her throat.

“We… I, thank you all. I could not have done this without the support of all those behind me,” turning and sweeping her wing along her band and backup singers. Turning back to look out she lowered her eyes once more. “Or, the love I have found from among all my ponies,” she said cryptically, but anyone with half a brain knew exactly who she was talking to.

Poor, poor, Night Shade; did he know what he was in for? Having not just a mare, but the Lunar Mare herself chasing him? I saw him blink out of the corner of my eye and glanced over in time to see him lower his head to Luna with a soft smile on his muzzle.

I leaned over to Luna and whispered out of mic range. “That, was really brave.”

Luna whispered back. “M-more than you know, Shane; more than you know.”

How in the hell do I follow that one up? I mean, holy crap I just watched one of the ruling ponies, put on a show that would make anyone proud. I asked myself.

However, I wanted to keep the reason for this whole thing in folk’s minds. So, I picked up my guitar once more and walked out onto the stage. Like the first set I had done, the same band was behind me, same ponies, same mint green mare smiling warmly as she winked her eye at me.

I had spoken to Lyra to see how she was holding up. Lyra said she was having a blast and getting to show off she knew how to play more than a harp was really special for her. I did chuckle as I thought I was turning that mare into a cowgirl.

So, I took my seat again tugging the mic closer, making sure it was all set up before I leaned forward and spoke.

“This next song is a reminder of heart. That when our guards are out there... we have to remember them. That they are alone while their families and loved ones are safe at home.”

I took a breath in. “This song is by a country singer named John Michael Montgomery. It is called... ‘Letters from Home’.”

I glanced one more time back to the band then down at the strings of my guitar. I started to pluck and began the song.

My Dear Son, it is almost June,
I hope this letter catches up to you, and finds you well.
Its been dry but they're calling for rain,
And everything's the same ol' same in Johnsonville.
Your stubborn 'ol Daddy ain't said too much,
But I'm sure you know he sends his love,
And she goes on,
In a letter from home.

A lot of the same reactions as my first song were on the ponies in the crowd as I played and sang, there were ponies and others sitting forward, ears perked, pointed up at me to catch every word.

I hold it up and show my buddies,
Like we ain't scared and our boots ain't muddy, and they all laugh,
Like there's something funny bout' the way I talk,
When I say: "Mama sends her best y'all."
I fold it up an' put it in my shirt,
Pick up my gun an' get back to work.
An' it keeps me driving me on,
Waiting on letters from home.

I looked back down at my fingers on the strings as I set up for the next part of the song. Once more, I focused on the song, not on the thousands of eyes on me. I just hoped they liked this as much as all the other music tonight.

My Dearest Love, it’s almost dawn.
I've been lying here all night long wondering where you might be.
I saw your Mama and I showed her the ring.
Man on the television said something so I couldn't sleep.
But I'll be alright, I'm just missing you.
An' this is me kissing you:
XX's and OO's,
In a letter from home.

I hold it up and show my buddies,
Like we ain't scared and our boots ain't muddy, and they all laugh,
'Cause she calls me "Honey", but they take it hard,
'Cause I don't read the good parts.
I fold it up an' put it in my shirt,
Pick up my gun an' get back to work.
An' it keeps me driving me on,
Waiting on letters from home.

I glanced up and saw a few couples in the crowd near the stage pressing closer. One guard in full armor had his face pressed into the neck of the mare that was next to him. Yeah, they got it; I’m sure of it.

I knew this next line would be a heavy one, it always had been. See, I had friends that went to the sandbox and we had talked when they got home. It’s why I had always tried to write when they left, I hope my letters helped even the ones that didn’t come back from over there.

Now, in my new home, there were guards on the borders; ones who didn’t see their loved ones for a full year rotation. I wanted all the ponies who didn’t serve to understand the sacrifice they gave.

Dear Son, I know I ain't written,
But sittin' here tonight, alone in the kitchen, it occurs to me,
I might not have said, so I'll say it now:
Son, you make me proud.

I hold it up and show my buddies,
Like we ain't scared and our boots ain't muddy, but no one laughs,
'Cause there ain't nothing funny when a soldier cries.
An' I just wipe me eyes.
I fold it up an' put it in my shirt,
Pick up my gun an' get back to work.
An' it keeps me driving me on,
Waiting on letters from home.

I ain’t a hero like the ones here tonight. I’m just a ranger.hey may be ponies and gryphons and all manner of things, however, they are heroes to me, and I really wanted them to know that, too. I looked up at the crowd and the applause, the smiles, and more than one look of thanks.

If just one civilian got it after tonight, understood the message... well then... that was the best thing I could have gifted my new home, Equestria.

I bowed my head as I stood and leaned into the mic. “Thank you.”

I walked off stage to collect myself as they started to set up for the next act; only 4 more songs to go and the night was over. I had one last set to do and I smiled to myself. This one was going to be a lot of fun and a real surprise for a pink pony.

Author's Notes:

Wooo ok 3rd part is up, going by the rest of what I have laid out for the big show folks. We are looking at a Part 4, and MIGHT have a part 5..then we are back into the next arc of the story.

As I warned in my blog post. The story will now be diving away from the main show canon somewhat. Timelines will change around, things from season 9 changed how some of my plans will go. Some ships will not happen in story that happened in show canon (appledash). Some events are going to happen out of sequence with the shows sequence, and so on.