“Good morning!”

Mayor Mare greeted the sundry ponies as she made her way through the crowd. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and all the ponies that had crowded around the train station looked happy and eager for the train to arrive. Ponyville was a quiet community, and for it to receive this many scheduled guests was an event worth turning out for. There hadn’t been this many Ponyville ponies in one place since… the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant, the mayor thought. It was an exciting thing to see.

The sounds of the crowd filled the air. Mayor Mare couldn’t help but grin as she heard the familiar hubbub of her peaceful little village. On one edge of the open area, several of the Ponyville farmers – Applejack, of Sweet Apple Acres, and Carrot Top, of Golden Harvest Farms – were selling their fresh produce, which in the mayor’s opinion was superior even to the famous farms of Trottingham. A short distance away, Pinkie Pie and Bonbon had set up a large stand and were doing a very good business selling sweets to the foals and others who gathered around. A mint-green unicorn with a lyre was playing a tune on the other edge of the area, and a few ponies had already gathered around her to listen. Up above, the weather patrol – Rainbow Dash, Cloud Kicker, Raindrops, and even the part-timer Medley – were breaking up the last of the clouds. Every sight and sound showed a town full of lively, happy, and industrious ponies, all turning out to enjoy a gorgeous day and a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Mayor Mare made her way to the podium. She was expected to say a few lines, and had even written up a short speech. However, once she was up there and addressing the ponies, the words seemed to fall out of her head. It was just too lovely – between the tweeting birds, the whistling wind, and even the melodious background chatter of the ponies – for simple speech. This was the sort of day where only song could do.

The birds sang more loudly, a slow and gradually lifting tune that seemed to raise the mayor’s spirits along with it. When they had quieted, the mayor took that as her cue and began:

Oh light, the heart

That lingers in Ponyville

Ponyville, where we will

Live in peaceful happiness

A few other ponies – three mares who sold flowers in the square -- chimed in, So lovely!

Highly recommended

Is this sweet little town (Beauty and good friends abound!)

Mayor Mare paused, a bit surprised that other ponies were joining in, but more pleased than bothered. She smiled, nodded to the flower trio, and continued:

The stars, have smiled,

And blessed is Ponyville!

Ponyville! You’ll see full

Houses, shops, and hearts all ‘round! Such vigour!

Take the time to taste us!

We’ll give out a welcome that’s typically cheerful

There’s none like it in all the land

Our smiles and greetings, they last – they’re not fleeting --

And they’ll cheer you up where you stand!

A few of the shopkeepers – Rarity, who ran a clothing boutique; Medley, who had flown low over the crowd to break up an errant cloud and who also sold instruments at the town music store, and Bonbon, the candy merchant, interjected:

Speaking as three of the salesmares:

You’ll find none better than our lovely wares!

Mayor Mare opened her mouth to sing again, but suddenly most of the crowd– energized by the beauty, the song, and, the mayor hoped, a good dose of civic pride – began to sing.

Oh I feel great when I concentrate

On the beauty of Ponyville

Verdant, green Ponyville

Flourishing to a fault!

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt!

I’d have to be carried away – to call a halt!

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state!

Oh hail to thee, Ponyville!

Hearty, hale Ponyville!

Any objections?

(And a few of the deeper-voiced stallions shouted: Neigh!)

Where grass tastes like the finest oats

And water like champagne!

Get out your get up and go, for work or play

It’s the best place you could be, even for just one day!

The Mayor took over the song again, with a few of the birds – probably Fluttershy’s, she’d trained them well – singing backup harmonies.

O sad, the soul

Who passes by Ponyville

Ponyville! No evil

Monsters ever cross our eye! Safe and calm!

Why not stay forever?

Oh so many reasons why! All those in favor say ‘Aye!’

Aye!

So sing, our song

Let’s hear it for Ponyville!

Ponyville! In Ponyville

We're like one happy family! Harmony!

What a healthy haven!

This is a place where your aching flanks relax

Stress and nerves haven’t a chance!

From forest to field our bountiful yields

Are fighting your tension’s advance!

So come to us, and feel the force!

Open late for Equinox, of course.

Lyra Heartstrings, the town bard, had made her way to the front of the crowd. She took the lead, playing the merry tune on her lyre and running it through the disparate voices, thereby uniting the various parts into a single focused melodies with harmonic backing. She grinned, sweeping one hoof forward as if to say ‘More!’ And the ponies obliged.

Oh I feel great when I concentrate

On the beauty of Ponyville

Verdant, green Ponyville

Flourishing to a fault!

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt!

I’d have to be carried away – to call a halt!

Once in a while, Cadance will smile

On little, quaint Ponyville!

Humble, kind Ponyville

Suddenly hits the press!

And I report with all the pride and joy that I possess

That ponies all over the land, have our address!

Our little town will be famed, at the Princess’s behest!

Before they could sing anything else, and as the birds whistled a few tweeting bars, Rainbow Dash called out from up high, “Everypony, look! The train is coming!”

Lyra quickly waved for the ponies to finish the verse, and they did so by repeating the last two lines:

Get out your get up and go, for work or play

It’s the best place you could be, even for just one day!

Then they all turned, and indeed, the special train from Canterlot – with an army of staff and a few choice others – was coming around the last bend and approaching the station.

The watching ponies began to clap and cheer as the train approached. Onboard, some of the passengers – those watching out the windows – saw this. Some of them waved back in return, some called hello, and a few even held up signs to greet the citizenry. And one – the one in the very last car, the Private Car that was set aside for transport of Princess Cadance’s personal student – only looked at the window briefly, smiled to herself, and then returned to her music.

Octavia put her bow back to her cello and began to play. Hers was a faster, louder tune than the happy but bucolic song outside. It wasn’t the sort of music that Octavia usually played, but she had to admit to some excitement. She had played all sorts of concerts, but this was the first national event that she’d performed at. Even the rural crowds – which she had noticed didn’t seem as able, in general, to understand her music as the more sophisticated Canterlot audiences – seemed eager to see her. It was enough to almost make the taciturn mare stand up and cheer.

But she didn’t cheer. Instead, she sang. Timing her words to her rapid, energetic melody, she began:

What a scene! What a joy! What a lovely sight!

When my music’s the big sensation!

Did this town’s rustic taste alter overnight?

Did they find new sophistication?

Who knows? They just want to see

If I’m all that they say.

Well that's – all right! I’ll be glad to oblige.

I will play!

She took a brief break from singing to whip off an instrumental solo, tapping one hoof on the ground as she did so. The concerns from Canterlot, those who had talked down to her and told her that she was too isolated, too harsh, too focused… not friendly enough… none of that mattered. The proof was right outside, wasn’t it? And more than that, it was in every note she played.

Anypony can make friends. Only I can play like this.

The music zipped around before falling in prominence again to allow her to sing:

Let them raze with their words, I can raise the room.

Though they glare, still my skill increases!

Forget them, rise in rank. I’m the living proof

Don’t need them to master my pieces!

Yes, I know, I’m the best there is.

And those ponies, want a show!

Well that's – all right! I’ll play my heart out for them…

So let’s go!

So let’s go!

The train stopped. Octavia packed up her things and left the car, and as she had predicted, she was immediately stopped. “You’re the princess’s student!” some of the ponies cried. “You’re that famous cellist from Canterlot!” said others.

Octavia smiled as she greeted the crowd. “Hello. It’s good to be here. I assure you, I am looking forward to my concert during the Vernal Equinox Celebration. Thank you very much for being here.”

The crowd cheered, and before Octavia knew what was happening, the music had started up again:

Oh I feel great when I concentrate

On the beauty of Ponyville

Verdant, green Ponyville

Flourishing to a fault!

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt!

I’d have to be carried away – to call a halt!

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state!

Oh hail to thee, Ponyville!

Hearty, hale Ponyville!

Any objections? Neigh!

Where grass tastes like the finest oats

And water like champagne!

Get out your get up and go, for work or play

It’s the best place you could be, even… for… just… one… day!

The crowd’s song changed into a triumphant roar, and Octavia couldn’t help but smile. This was going to be the best Vernal Equinox ever. And all she’d have to do would be to perform her cello before Cadance walked onstage, and—

“Miss Philharmonica?”

She turned to the event staffer whose name she didn’t remember. “Yes?”

“We were going over Princess Cadance’s instructions, and she actually assigned you a few other tasks. They must have got mixed in with ours by mistake…”

Octavia raised an eyebrow. “… what tasks?”