Serenade

by TheBandBrony

First published 5th of February, 2012

2nd person "You" x Rarity shipping

(Rated [Romantic] by the Ponychan Sensual Fiction General)
As a traveling musician, your life could be summed up in one word: Disappointment. But after saving a beautiful unicorn named Rarity from being attacked in a back alley, you begin to realize that you may have found something worth fighting for.

Dancing (And Fighting) Under the Moon

Serenade

“This tune goes out to all you ponies who are crazy enough to stay up this late. This is Blue after two.”

The sound of a saxophone flows through the air, and fills the bar up with little difficulty. The establishment is still half-full with ponies, most simply putting down frilly cocktails in an attempt to flitter their Friday night away in a drunken stupor. Let them try. The drinks here are as potent as tap water. The place called itself the Pure and Petite, with its getup being the only “high class” drinking establishment in all of Ponyville, and in that category they took the cake. Case in point: the bartenders refuse to serve beer, on the grounds that it "corrupts the taste buds of our dear patrons". You don’t really like the place, but work is work, and as a traveling musician, you take whatever jobs come your way. Apparently, you did something right, because the owners have hired you back three times. This is your fourth show here.

For whatever reasons they hired you, you haven't made a considerable change in the atmosphere of the bar. Ponies mill about, some tipsy from the copious amounts of alcohol they had, some talking quietly amongst themselves, and a precious few actually watching you melodically labor over your instrument of choice: the saxophone. However, you started to notice a trend: one unicorn in particular would show up every night you played, would always clap the loudest when due applause was needed, would be the last one to leave the bar, only departing after you have ceased pumping music into the building.

"Maybe she just likes the music," you think. You contemplate the strange behaviors of the mare as you decrescendo into the final licks of the song, holding the final note as long as possible before parting with your piece, panting slightly. A smattering of applause fills the bar, and once again, the unicorn is the first to start, and the last to stop. You give her a quizzical look. She really is a beautiful specimen of the female gender. Perfectly combed and curled mane, spotless Pearl-white coat, ocean-blue eyes that seemed to lead you into her very essence.

And those flanks-

You stop yourself before the thought can be finished. You are a gentlecollt, and such perversion is not an acceptable way to think.

Then again... You steal a quick look. Every bit as good as you imagined.

There, you had your fun, you think. Back to work.

You take a light swig of a bottle perched next to you - water, not alcohol - and clear your throat. "Alright, ladies and gentlecolts. This will be my last song tonight. Thanks again for having me here. This song's titled ‘With gratitude’. Goodnight.” You exhale sharply into the saxophone, producing a slightly staccato, but laid back tone. The song is a three/four waltz, and you notice several ponies begin to dance with significant others. The unicorn who has not taken her eyes off you since you appeared on the stage, however, simply stares wistfully at the dancing couples. A pained expression on her face causes you to cringe. You don't like to see her in any amount of agony, no matter how small.

In a carefully prepared move, a deep red aura of magic encloses the instrument. Somehow, it remains playing. You have practiced this for a while now-using your magic to force air trough the horn. It doesn't sound as melodious as when played normally, but it will do the job. You hop off the stage, adjusting your jacket slightly. This jacket is your only piece of formal wear that is still presentable to the public, after your tux was ruined by that drunken party-goer at Sugercube corner. That's the last time you get talked into trying to play at such a rowdy place as that.

You snap your train of thought back to the mare, now only a short distance away, though still staring at the happy couples dancing.

You gently tap a hoof on her shoulder. As she turns to face you, you extend a fire-red hoof in front of you.

"May I have this dance?"

She begins to respond, but at that moment, she sees the saxophone, the magic clasping it, and your glowing horn. As she puts two and two together, a smile spreads across her face.

"Why... Why yes! I would just love-" she catches herself, composing her demeanor into a much more subdued state. "That sounds lovely, good sir." she takes your hoof and allows you to lead her to the dance floor, where a small crowd has already gathered, brought in by the enchanting music like moths to a flame.

As you begin to dance, you make a mental note that she knows all the steps of a waltz, a trait seemingly lost on ponies of a lesser caliber.

"You know," she almost whispers into your ear as you sway with the music, "most colts just try to dance with me so they can attempt to make some... Rather lewd actions, or that of the sort."

You stop dancing, sincerity on your face as you reply, "Well I can assure you, I would never even think of doing something so crass."

She smiles, the small action making your face flush slightly. "Such a gentlecolt."

You drag the song on for longer than you should have, but eventually, you end the song, a gentle forte signaling the tune's ending. As the dance floor begins to empty, you bow slightly, bringing her hoof to your lips in a gentle kiss. "It was an honor to dance with you, Miss..."

"Rarity." She giggles, the sound making your stomach turn. What was this? You certainly haven't felt this unusual in quite some time, not since-

No, you think. I couldn't possibly have feelings for her.

You were stating at her flanks, your conscience retorts.

You notice the owner of the bar walking up to you. You push the thoughts out of your mind, and part with the mare.

"Very nice, once again! You certainly earned this." he held up a good sized sack of bits. You accept them with a short nod and a soft "Thank you".

"Hey, listen. The folks here really like your music. Would you like to come back again on Saturday? Same pay."

You grin. Usually ponies don't take to your relaxed blues, but clearly, this pony was an exception. "I would love to," you reply. "Thank you again, for allowing me to play here."

"Not a problem, buddy." says the owner. "I'll let you go now. Be careful out there."

You shake your head in agreement, then make your way back to the stage to pack your saxophone.

-----

You head out the back door, not wanting any more attention than you already have received from the bar’s patrons. You never clamor for attention, even shun it en masse. "Don't stay in the spotlight too long, or you'll go blind." It is an old saying of yours, a part of your most unusual, quirky brain. Poetry was always a hobby of yours, so you feel the flow of words, however enigmatic and difficult to decipher, natural to you.

"Hey, look. We got ourselves a pretty little mare tonight."

The gruff, surly voice tears you from you mind's ramblings, forcing you to search for the origin of the voice. What you see turns your skin to ice.

Two large, brown stallions have cornered a hapless mare, and by the looks of it, they did not simply wish to engage in friendly conversation.

"Hu Hu, yeah. She's real purdy." replies the second stallion. As you sneak closer, you realize just who the stallions have cornered: your dancing partner, Rarity.

Your blood boils. How DARE they try to harm a single delicate hair in her mane? You leave the question unanswered, spurred on by a fit of rage and passion, as you run between the attackers and their victim.

"Run, Miss Rarity! Go!" She doesn't hesitate, speeding away along the dirt road that ran through the town.

Your hatred returns to the two clearly larger stallions that are now set to pounce on you. You turn on your heels and immediately buck one in the face. To your horror, the only thing that you accomplish is making the stallion angry. Before you can react, you have been encircled by the attackers, and as you turn to run, you feel something solid connecting with the side of your head. You are lifted into the air by the sheer force of the blow, and before you can allow gravity to arrest your flight, you close your eyes, allowing blossoms of pain to drag you into unconsciousness.

Black and Blue After Two

You awake in the same alley you were attacked in. It is considerably brighter out now, the sun already having risen some distance into the sky. As you attempt to rise, a fresh bomb of pain detonates in your head, leaving you reeling and nauseous. Against your better judgment, you slowly rise, blinking heavily in the bright mid-day light. You glance around, desiring nothing more than to get your saxophone and go home. You spot the case, badly battered but intact, at the end of the alley. You rush over as fast as your foggy mind allows you to, opening the case and cradling your instrument in your hooves. It is intact, save a broken key at the top. Other than that, no major damage has been inflicted to the object.

"Thank Celestia for small favors." you whisper to yourself. While attempting to balance the case on your back to allow for easier transit, you notice, to your dismay, that your jacket has become torn in several different places. There goes your last piece of formal wear.

"No... This was a gift!" you cry to no one in particular. Downtrodden mentally and physically, you decide to simply head for home and cut your losses. As you attempt to walk out of the alley, you notice an increasing, shooting pain in your left forehoof that refuses to go away, if only becoming worse every passing moment.

"Great. Just great." you make a mental note to see a doctor after you get your personals sorted out, seeing as you have been relieved of most of them by the attackers.

You struggle out of the alley and onto the main road, attracting more than a few stares from the passerby, making you blush. Nopony should see him like this. Broken, beaten, disheveled-"

"Oh my stars! Are you ok?!" a familiar voice startles you, causing you to turn sharply, exerting your wounded hoof and almost forcing you to double over with pain.

The voice belonged to none other than Rarity, the pony who, had you not intervened, would look strikingly similar to your current appearance. she was accompanied by a purple unicorn, both carrying small saddlebags filled with various items most likely purchased at the shops nearby.

"Miss Rarity! Um- well, yes... I'm fine. I'm so sorry you had to see me like this-" you try to run, instead tripping and landing on your probably broken hoof, causing you to suppress a howl of pain, instead emitting a small whimper of discomfort.

"Oh, no! Please, let me help you up!"

"No, I'm fine!" you insist. "I just need a second. Please, It really just looks worse than it really is."

You struggle to rise to your feet, finally succeeding, only to drop your instrument.

The unicorn accompanying Rarity sprung into action. "Please, let us help you! You look like you were attacked!"

"Well, I was, as a matter of fact." you spill. "Miss Rarity was cornered by several unruly looking thugs, so I... distracted them. Miss Rarity got away; I didn't." you say flatly. "Now if you will excuse me," you slur, dark splotches of inky blackness beginning to obscure your vision, "I have to go home. I wish both of you a good day." You keel over, shiver slightly, and then close your eyes. All goes dark.

In the Mood (To kiss you)

As you regain consciousness, you find yourself in a boutique, littered with fabrics, half-finished dresses, and garish mannequins, several propped haphazardly against each other in mutual support.

"Oh, thank Celestia you're up!"

The familiar voice caused him to turn rapidly, inciting another jolt of pain from his side.

"Do try not to move, dearie. You were pretty roughed up when we found you, and I certainly don't want to make this any more painful than it already must be."

You gently turn to the voice, finding none other than Rarity, a worried look on her face and a glad of water in hoof.

"Drink." She says. You need no more prodding as you take great, greedy sips of the opaque liquid. After it has disappeared, you hear Rarity call for somepony.

"Oh Twilight! Our guest has awoken!"

A purple unicorn wavers into your field of vision. "Well hello! Im Twilight Sparkle."

"Friend of Rarity's?" you muster.

A quick nod confirms your suspicions. "Now listen," she continues, "Rarity told me about you getting jumped, but she didn’t stay around for the fight, so you'll have to fill us in on what happened after that."

You grunt in approval. "Well, the two stallions had cornered Rarity in an alley. So, I jumped in between them, and told Rarity to run. After she got away, I got my flanks handed to me, pardon my language."

"Such a gentlecolt," muses Rarity.

"Well," cuts in Twilight, "That's pretty much what we expected to hear. Now, you'll need to stay here and rest for a while before you can get back on your hooves again."

"Oh no," you say, bemused by the predicament Twilight just implied, "I don't want to be such a burden. I can't imagine-"

"No buts!" says Rarity, showing a forcefulness of her tone that almost makes you flinch. "You saved me from whatever wretched things those two Stallions were planning to do to me, and they beat you up for it! The least I can do is allow you to rest here for a while."

Against everything you have been taught in terms of manners, you agree. "No more than a day, though. I simply cannot stand imposing."

"You, sir, are not the least bit imposing! It's a rather slow work day, anyway."

"Okay... I guess." you reply, still unwanting to be burdensome to the mare that helped you so much already.

"Well, I need to go." Says Twilight. "The princess is expecting a report on my studies on group teleportation."

"Okay, dearie. Have fun!" Rarity shuffles close and says in a hushed tone, "Sometimes I simply do NOT know what she babbles on about."

You can't help but agree.

As Twilight leaves the building, shutting the door with a subdued slam, you find yourself alone with Rarity. You feel a familiar flutter enter your stomach as you stare at the mare.

"Why am I feeling like this?"

"What was that dearie?"

You realize you said that out loud, enduring the blood to rush to your face. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking, that's all."

"Okay then."

A long string of silence passes through the boutique. Eventually, you decide to break the silence. "So... May I assume from the decor of this establishment that this is a boutique?"

"Only the best in all of Ponyville!" pipes Rarity, eager for an opportunity to show off. "Everything I make is unique and magnificent! I AM the best dressmaker around, after all."

A thought pops into your head. "Say, do you happen to do repairs? My jacket was torn to shreds in the fight, and it's my last piece of formal wear."

Determination mixed with excitement cross her face. "Why I'd LOVE to! It's the least I can do, after all."

You lift yourself up off the couch (painfully) and take off the tattered remains of your jacket, depositing them in the eager arms of Rarity. The mare holds up the jacket in front of her, a forlorn expression adorning her face. "Pity... This was a very nice jacket... Oh well! Time to go to work!" She spins on her hooves and sets about her task in a flurry of pins, cloth, and string that engulf the entirety of the building. You are pelted by bits of various materials, and at one point you are fairly certain you have been impaled by a safety pin.

After several minutes of an invariable hurricane of fabrics, the mare emerges, carrying your jacket. All noticeable tears and holes have been seamlessly patched, and the seams all re-stitched. You turn it over in your hooves, you notice something stitched over the back pocket. A swath of fabric in the shape of the letter "R" has been sewn over the original label.

You give an inquisitive look at Rarity. "Well, SOMEPONY has to know who made such a masterpiece of fashion!"

You can only laugh at such self endorsement, but decide not to bring it up. It is, after all, more than a fair trade for your temporary lodging.

“Can I tell you something?” Rarity turns to look at you, the sincerity in her tone making you melt. “I really would like to thank you for what you did last night. I know that if you hadn’t intervened… well, it wouldn’t have turned out well for me. It breaks my heart that you got so hurt all over me.”

You smile weakly. “Well, Miss Rarity, I know that whatever happened to me was worth saving such an amazing pony as you.”

Her face turned a deep crimson, and before you know it, she is enveloping you in a hug. The soft warmth of her pristine fur against you startles you, but you give in and return the affection without complaint. She holds the embrace for some time before turning away. You are surprised to see her welling up with tears. “It’s just… all the stallions in this town… they only appreciate me for my beauty. Nopony I’ve ever dated really cared about my personality. They just wanted me for my body…” she stumbled on the last words before sobbing lightly. Clearly, this whole experience has hit her harder than it has you.

Summoning the remainder of your strength, you lift yourself off the couch and limp over to her, embracing her once again. She takes the invitation, crying softly into your shoulder. She continues for some time, until, devoid of more tears, she parts from you. “Thank you…” she says, wiping the luminous trails of tears from her face. “I feel better getting that out of my system. You really are a great friend.”

You smile again, seeing the life begin to return to the mare. She laughs skittishly. “Goodness, I must seem like an emotion wreck now.”

You return the smile. “Emotions make us a wreck. It is in controlling them that we find strength and purpose.”

Her face takes on an awed expression. “You certainly have a way with words…” her voice trails off as she leans slightly closer to you, still enveloped in your embrace. Your heartbeat quickens to a gallop, and you feel yourself being pulled towards the mare in front of you. You close your eyes, allowing the unicorn’s mane to subconsciously intermingle with yours. Just as your lips are about to touch, her eyes shoot open as an almost filly like squeal escapes her lips.

“Idea!” she drags out the word, putting a sing song tone into it. She rushes off, breaking the embrace and almost knocking you over. She dives into a large pile of fabrics as the storm of designing items begins to swirl around her.

You sigh, and recline on the couch, defeated. You can no longer deny that you like this mare, but obviously, she doesn’t feel the same way. Why else would she just run off on you after-

You feel a pair of soft lips touching yours. You open your eyes in surprise to see Rarity, planting a light kiss on your lips. Every single moment of ecstasy in your life combined pale in comparison to this moment. Imaginary trumpets blare, fanfare erupts from the heavens themselves, and fireworks explode in your head in a rush of unadulterated bliss that causes the blood to rush to your head. You surrender yourself to the moment of elation.

Just as quickly as it begins, the moment is over. Rarity pulls away and smiles politely a maddening blush overcoming her face as well as yours. Before you can say anything, she resumes her designing, leaving you on the couch with a confused but elated expression on your face. You lie down, feeling faint as the blood drains from your head, contenting yourself to replay the kiss in your head as you silently drape a blanket over yourself and attempt to get some sleep.

I guess I'll change My Plans

You awake on the couch, in the same position you fell asleep in. The sun is shining through a window on the roof, the rays hitting you directly in your eye.

“Ow, ow, OW!” you cry as you feel the sunlight searing your corneas. In a mild panic, you fling yourself off the couch and onto the floor, eliciting a cry of pain as you connect with the hardwood below. You have barely been awake for a minute, and already you have been blinded and felled by nothing more than the sun and gravity.

As you attempt to rise, a white unicorn runs into the room, covered in a half finished dress she was undoubtedly working on until she heard your cries. “Oh dear, Are you okay? What happened?”

You are somehow able to get to your hooves, despite the overwhelming sensation that your legs are about to fall off. “Yes… just, startled myself, I guess.” You give her a sheepish grin. “No harm done.”

Her face relaxes with relief. “Oh, well that’s good to hear.” She gets up, but hesitates as she turns around. “Listen… dearie. I feel like we, we need to talk about what happened.”

Your face clouds with confusion for a moment before the memories come flooding back in a proverbial tidal wave of emotion. You begin to feel light headed as you recall those soft lips gently caressing yours, the pure ecstasy that followed that glorious event-

“Hello?” you snap back to reality to find Rarity waving a hoof in front of your face.

` “Oh,” you skitter, “Sorry. I just… drifted off there.”

Rarity sits you down. “Alright. This whole affair has been bugging me all day, and I just want to get this off my chest. Ever since I met you, I held a bit of a… soft spot for you. I went to the Pure and Petite simply to see you there, and at first I just convinced myself that I was there for the alcohol and the music. But… when we danced, it all just… clicked.” She chuckled. “Goodness that sounded cliché.”

You chuckle as well, but keep your tone serious. “Oh that’s fine. Please, continue.”

Rarity clears her throat. “Well, after the dance ended, I told myself I was just going to ask you on a date. When the owner of the establishment walked up and started talking to you… I got nervous and just left. Then the whole debacle in the alley happened. The way you stood up for me like that in the face of danger… I’ve never met a stallion who would do that for me.”

You cock your head to one side. “Surely, such a lovely mare as you would have suitors lining up around the block for a shot at your heart?”

She guffaws. “Well, yes and no. Yes as in there are always plenty of colts who would love to have a shot with me. No as in they were only after one thing…”
Somehow, you aren’t surprised at this admission. Rarity is a very beautiful pony, and there are plenty of crass stallions out there who would attempt to take advantage given the opportunity.

She continues. “Nopony I ever dated really bothered to think of me as anything more than a prize. I grew so weary of it, and I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never find a good stallion for me. But then you came along… you cared for me because of who I am, not what I looked like. You liked me for me. I never had that connection with anypony before… I guess I just… just…” her eyes well up.

You need no further explanation. You stand up shakily and look directly into her eyes. “Miss Rarity, that was beautiful. I don’t care what has happened in the past. I don’t care how many other stallions have treated you like dirt. What I care about now is that I treat you like the sensitive, pristine, amazing mare that you have shown me to be. I care for you because you are the way you are, and that will never change.”

You put as much bravado into your voice as possible and continue. “I found the most amazing mare that I ever could have hoped for, and I do not intent to do anything to hurt her. Quite the contrary, in fact. When you smile, a whole new part of you blossoms, and I am inexorably honored that I am allowed to see such beauty and radiance. Rarity, you have opened my heart, and I will go so far as to say that I think I may be in love. I only hope that you feel the same way.”

You wait as your words sink in. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, Rarity throws her arms around you, embracing you with almost ravenous force. She sobs with a mixture of sadness and pure joy. “Oh, you don’t know how happy I am to hear that! You are the most amazing stallion I’ve ever met!” With that she broke down, once again sobbing into your still bruised shoulder. You comfortingly pat her back.

“Shh… everything’s all right. No need to cry. Everything’s okay…” you whisper into her ear. Eventually, her sobs become more subdued, and she pulls away from you, dabbing her eyes to avoid making her makeup run.

“Wow… ever since you came into my life, I’ve been crying a lot more than normal.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t realize I was causing you such emotional distress.” You feel your heart sink as you realize you are the cause of Rarity’s inner turmoil. She takes notice of this, and attempts to rectify the situation. “Well, I didn’t mean it as a bad thing! It’s always best to let your emotions out. Repressing them won’t do you any good, you know.”

You nod n agreement. “Very nice save.” You both laugh for a moment. You help her up, but not before planting a quick kiss on her cheek. The act elicits a giggle from Rarity as her face briefly brushes. However, she quickly regains her composure and stares you directly in the eyes.

“So… If I may ask, what does this turn of events make us- in terms of… you know… relationships?”

Her awkward phrasing of the question almost makes you laugh, but you are able to suppress it as you return Rarity’s stare. “Well… this whole turn of events has been pretty crazy. I think I would like to formally declare my stance on our relationship.”

You instantly materialize a dozen roses into your hooves and kneel down in front of Rarity, much to the chagrin of your aching legs. “Miss Rarity, I would be ever so honored if you were to accompany me as my date to dinner tonight.”

Rarity giggles and blushes profusely as she accepts the roses with a curtsy. “Why, I could not imagine a better way to spend an evening, sir.”

You beam with confidence (and a small amount of relief that Rarity accepted your offer). “Lovely, my lady. I shall return around eight?”

“That sounds fantastic. I will see you then.”

“Until then,” you say with an exasperated flourish, “I bid you ado.” You give her a brief kiss before heading to the door, a very noticeable skip in your step. Unfortunately, your knees decide to give out just as you reach the door. As you feel yourself begin to fall, you flail vainly for purchase, but find none. The ground arrests your flight, and you bounce pitiably off the hardwood floor underneath you.

As you get up and attempt to clear your head, you can’t help but see Rarity rolling on the floor, paralyzed by laughter. You stare curtly at her, not entertained by your fall. She notices, and attempts to regain her composure. “Yes... well, I’ll-um, see you at eight-“ at this point, she gives up and falls to the ground laughing. You roll your eyes, but can’t help laugh a little yourself as you exit the boutique to prepare for your date.

Tonight at Eight

“Ok… roses? No, too cliché.” You rub your hooves together, feeling the gentle burn of friction build up as you stare intently at the flower stall. You are looking for a flower arrangement comparable to the pure radiance of your date, Rarity. Not surprisingly, not a single one has caught your eye, and if it didn’t hold your attention, it wont’ hold hers. You gently peruse the vendor’s selection of flowers absentmindedly, silently hoping that something happens to jump out at you.

The pony running the stall sees your flustered appearance. “Hey, buddy, ya can't be supah picky when it comes ta flowahs. Ya look like yah lookin’ fah flowahs coated in diamonds.”

You look up hopefully. “Oh, do you sell those?”

The vendor face hoofs. “No. Those don’t even exist ya dummeh! If ya date’s that important, just take ah to the hills to the east ah Ponyville. From theah ya can see the stahs like no othah. Real pretty.”

You are hesitant to believe this thickly-accented stallion, but decide to place your faith in him none the less. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to stop by there tonight.”

You begin to depart from the stall, but you hesitate. “Wait, how did you know I was going to be going on a date tonight?"

The vendor laughs huskily. "Buddy, ya look like a nervous wreck! Only a mare can drive ya that crazy!" he laughs again, the sounds echoing off the nearby houses and causing a flock of birds in the distance to panic and take flight.

You laugh nervously as you ease away from the stall, unwilling to turn your back on the vendor until he is at a safe distance. Having a copious amount of free time before your date, you decide to head over to the fields the vendor was talking about and scout the location to make sure it is, in fact, suitable for your date tonight.

As you walk through town, you are suddenly pulled aside by some unknown force. You expect the worst, and tense up in preparation for some horrible beating. Visions of the two stallions go assaulted you previously flash into your mind, only furthering your terror.

"Hey!" the surprisingly upbeat voice causes you to crack your eyes so as to reveal your assailant. You find yourself looking at the familiar face of a purple unicorn.

"Oh! Hello Miss... Sparkle, correct?"

The mare nods. "So I see you're up and around again."

"Oh, yes!" you say, jumping slightly to demonstrate your rehabilitated body. "Right as rain. Just took a little while to heal up, I suppose."

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better." She changes the subject. "So, what brings you out here this time of day? Rarity seemed pretty enthusiastic to have company at the boutique."

You freeze. Does Rarity want your relationship to be publicized in such a manor? The fledgling romance would surely turn sour if the affair went public without her approval. You decide to play it safe. "Oh! Uh, just getting some... Stuff, for my place!" you smile sheepishly.

"Cool," replies Twilight. "Where do you live?"

You weren't expecting that.

Unbenounced to your marefriend (or the rest of the town), you have been spending your recent nights in assorted back alleys, wrapped in whatever you happen to be wearing for warmth (Celestia help you if it rains). Being a traveling musician, shelter is a luxury that you simply can't afford at this point. All your meager funds go to food and other necessities. You know you MUST keep this a secret, at least for now. If Rarity found out that you had spent the last week in a gutter... She would lose it. You need to think of something, and quick.

"Um... Well-Uh, I live," you point at s random building in a vain hope that Twilight fall for the ruse. "...That one!"

Fortunately, Twilight fails to see through your facade. "Okay then," she replies, slightly put off by your odd behavior, but maintaining a chipper attitude none the less. "I'd better be going then. Have a good one."

You want to dance for joy that your lie is so successful, but instead resign yourself to a contented smile. "Same to you, Ms. Sparkle." you bow slightly before turning on your heels and departing the square.

The sun has been lowered considerably during your foray with Twilight, but you still have enough time to complete your original objective: to check out the fields that the vendor told you about earlier. It couldn't have been more than a half an hour ago, but the conversation with the heavily-accented stallion seems like it happened half a lifetime ago.

Eventually, you find the field the vendor was talking about. Long grass and weeds cover the entirety of the knoll. The now setting sun reflects off the grass, making the field practically glow with perennial life. The Everfree forest lies a good distance to your right. As menacing as it normally is, the sun's rays have permeated the canopy of leaves enclosing the forest, filling the woods with a gentle shine. The sky is devoid of any cloud formations, entailing a beautiful night of star gazing. This spot is simply perfect in every possible way. Rarity will love it, you're sure of that.

Having assured yourself that the location is suitable, you set your course for Rarity's boutique.

As you reach the boutique, you take a brief moment to look yourself over. The prognosis is bleak: Your mane is slightly unruly, your jacket isn’t straight, and to top it all off, you’re beginning to have a mild panic attack. You decide to just let it be, seeing as you really don't have time to fix anything.

You take a few deep breathes, and knock on the door.

After a moment of frenzied shuffling, you see the knob turn. You r heart is ready to explode out of pure anxiety. The door opens to behold Rarity, sporting a subdued, yet luxurious hat. Her eyes are framed by miniscule amounts of blue eye shadow. Her coat is practically lustrous, the shine from its pearl white color nearly blinding you. In your opinion, she couldn’t possibly get any more beautiful. You begin to get lost in her stunning cerulean eyes, only coming to your senses as Rarity waves a hoof in your face.

“Hello? You okay, dearie?”

You snap to attention. “Yes, yes of course.” You offer her a hoof. “Shall we? I’ve planned a nice, relaxing dinner at a gorgeous little café, followed by some star gazing on the hills just outside of Ponyville. Does that sound ok?”

Rarity wiggles up against your side. “As long as I’m with you, everything sounds just perfect.”

You both blush slightly as you escort her out of the boutique, the fading sunlight framing your shadows with deep orange light as you head into town.

A/N---Special thanks to Swiperthefox for suggesting the song that inspired this chapter. If you have a tune that you think I would like, feel free to tell me about it in the comments.

Stardust

The café is bustling by this time of night. Waiters scurry around with various forms of food and beverage, and patrons enter and leave in a slow but consistent flow. You are escorted by a server to a secluded table in the corner. The sounds of the café fall to subdued yet vibrant chatter as you thank your server and take your seats.

“Goodness,” says Rarity. “I’ve gone by this place so many times before, but I never would have thought to try it out.”

“Nothing wrong with trying something new,” you reply. “Speaking of new things, have you heard of any of the wines on this list?” you wave a miniature wine menu around for emphasis. “I can’t say any of these look familiar.”

She studies the list for a moment before turning her attention back to you. “I’m sorry; I can’t say I’ve ever heard of any of these. They look relatively foreign if you ask me.”

You contemplate this for a moment before responding. “Hmm… well, let’s just pick one at random and see how that works out.”

Rarity giggles. “Sounds like fun.”

At that moment, your server appears at your tableside. In a slightly accented voice, he asks, “Good evening. Have we decided on a wine tonight?”

“Yes,” you say, pointing at a completely random wine near the middle of the list. “We’ll take that one.”

The waiter nods. “Excellent choice, sir. I shall be right back with it.” He takes the wine list and walks off.

You adjust your jacket for the umpteenth time (It’s become somewhat of a nervous habit) and strike up conversation. “So, Rarity, did anything interesting happen at your boutique while I was out and about?”

At the mention of her boutique, her eyes perk up. “Oh, did it ever!” she squeaks enthusiastically. “Several very important ponies from the Manehatten fashion district showed up at my door and ordered matching ensembles for a fashion show next month!” At this point she was practically oozing excitement. “Can you believe it? They traveled all this way from Manehatten just to get MY dresses! If I pull this off, it could mean big things for me!”

You are genuinely impressed by this revelation. You know first-hoof that the upper crust of Manehatten elite is very picky, especially when it comes to fashion. Pleasing them is equitable to pleasing royalty, no small feat for a simple dressmaker from Ponyville. “That’s great!” you reply. “That’s a hard-to-please bunch of ponies up there. For them to like your fashion… that’s really cool!”

She nods in agreement. “If I get my name into those pony’s shows, my entire career would take off!” she begins to squeal, but represses it as your waiter arrives with a bottle of wine in tow. He uncorks it, and skillfully pours it into awaiting glasses. Having completed the task, he nods respectfully and disappears among the small throng of ponies in the café.

You levitate your glass at head height. “To manehatten fashionistas. May their unceasing love of fashion be matched only by their exorbitant bank accounts!” Rarity laughs as she clinks the glasses together, then takes a sip. You do the same.

The taste of the wine can only be described as rotten tomatoes mixed with slime. The unholy concoction burns heavily as it slides down your throat, eliciting a gurgle from deep inside of you. You put your glass down, fighting the urge to throw it out the nearest window, and turn to Rarity. The mare hasn’t found the brew any more tasteful than you, and is currently fighting down the single sip she has taken. Finally, she manages to get the wine down with the help of her entire water glass. You lock eyes for a moment before bursting out laughing. Several heads turn at your unexpected outburst, but you pay them no mind.

“You know what? I think I’m going to stick to water tonight.” You say, still feeling the burning effects of that devilish cocktail.

Rarity nods ecstatically. “Agreed.”

You banter on for several minutes before the waiter reappears, pen and paper in hand. “Are we ready to order?”

You and Rarity nod simultaneously. She is the first to speak. “I think I’ll have the sun-dried tomato salad.”

The waiter nods. “Excellent choice, ma’am. And for you sir?”

You stare at the menu before folding it up dismissively. I’ll just have what she’s having.”

The waiter nods, takes the menus, and melds back into the crowd.

You turn back to Rarity, who is looking at you in anticipation of another conversation. Unfortunately, your mind blanks on you, and you find yourself struggling to keep talking. Finally, Rarity initiates the conversation. “So, how did you get into music?”

“That is a great question, my friend. It’s a bit of a long story, so I suggest you get comfortable…”

-----

(A most unusual point of view)

I was always an outcast. I was very introverted as a kid in secondary school, and was adequately mocked for it every day of my existence. The one thing I had was music: I was the star of every school concert. I was proficient in whatever instrument would be thrown at me. They called me a prodigy. Every parent would clamor for a chance to see the prized pupil perform at a band function.

I was mocked for that, also. More than once, I had the words BAND GEEK tattooed onto my body with permanent marker. It was the must humiliating thing ever. As the torment got worse, my music only became better. When my music got better, bullies would invent new and horrifying ways to embarrass me. It turned into a process, and it was tearing me apart. Of course, I poured my heart and soul into the music I played, so whenever I had been bullied, I simply played some sad songs and got it out of my system.

As I got older, offers started coming in. I was wanted in this band or that orchestra; they all sounded the same to me, and I never really developed any aspirations to play music professionally. Once I was even given a private clinic by the conductor of the Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra. He tried to coerce me into joining, but I never wanted any of the pomp and circumstance that came with being in such a well respected band; formality never was my strong suit.

I played around town for a while, but eventually just decided to travel around Equestria and play wherever I darned well felt like. It didn’t pay well, but it was fun. I like it, and that’s what mattered to me.

My parents... Were less than enthusiastic about my life choices. We fought a lot... I and my dad would go at it for hours. He wanted me to join whichever orchestra paid the most, and then give him a slice of all my earnings. He just wanted the money. He was part of the reason I left... I just didn't want to see his face anymore.

A few years back, I got a letter from my mother. Dad had contracted some incurable disease that nopony had ever seen before, and he didn't have much time left. By the time I got there, the doctors had already given up. He... He apologized. He said that it was too late for it to matter, but he was sorry none the less.

It wasn't too late at all.

He held on another two weeks. We reconnected, shared stories of what we had all done, and apologized more and more for our respective failures as father and son. The time I shared with him was like all the possible father/son moments in a lifetime rolled up in a fortnight. We both knew it wouldn't last, but we tried to make it as great as possible, for the both of us.

He slipped away while I was asleep. I was awoken by the flat lined buzz of his heart monitor. Of course, I couldn't bring him back, but the way I was begging and pleading with the gods... I sure tried. I cried so much I became dehydrated and had to be admitted to the same hospital. I couldn't stay, though. I had finally been genuinely able to reconnect with my dad, and then...

I left the hospital. Took all the freeze dried food out of the hospital cafeteria and just walked away. I had nothing but a saxophone and a backpack full of crappy hospital food, but I managed. I made a name for myself in the Equestrian underground music circuit, and eventually, gigs started coming to me. I still moved around a lot, but for the most part people took me in. I had just gotten out of a two week stint in Canterlot when I came across Ponyville. It was here in Ponyville when I met the most amazing mare....

-----

"...And that's the story of my life, in a nutshell." you lean back and prepare for Rarity's response. Your story took longer than expected, encompassing the main course as well as the dessert. The cafe is mostly deserted, most patrons leaving while the night was still young. The remaining patrons are, for the most part, inebriated and sluggish to stand, let alone leave.

Still... A certain weight has been lifted from your shoulders knowing that Rarity at the very least knows the story of you. You haven't told the story in quite a while, and recalling the events of your youth always gives you a pleasantly bittersweet feeling of nostalgia.

Finally, Rarity responds. "My goodness... That's so... Sad!"

Your shoulders sag slightly. That is the typical response, after all. You don't solicit pity by telling your story, but it always finds its way into the mind of the beholder.

"Yeah... It is." you decide to change the subject. "So, are we ready to leave?"

Rarity stands up, stretching her legs slightly as she did. "I believe so. Where to next?"

You smile, feeling your mood pick up. "Next, we shall take a delightful little stroll to the hills just outside of Ponyville for some stargazing.

She claps her hooves together in excitement. "Oh, that sounds so lovely! I can't wait!" she moves next to you, your midsections rubbing together ever so gently. "Lead the way."

You oblige, guiding her on the same path you walked hardly a few hours ago. For a moment, you fear you have gotten lost, but as you round a bend, you are rewarded by the familiar sight of a cluster of rolling hills nestled along the edge of town.

"Here we are." you say as you lead Rarity to the tallest of the hills and plop down in the soft cushion of grass.

With a small amount of hesitance, Rarity does just the same. You begin to wonder if taking her here was a good idea when she let's out a quiet breath of amazement.

You turn your glance upwards, and are rewarded by a heavenly light show only the goddess of the night herself could create. Stars bedazzled the skies above them, varying in size from minuscule blips to massive bulbs of light in the great expanse of space. They shine with radiance unmatched by even the most lustrous of diamonds. They are only beset by the bleak darkness of space, but even then, they cut through the void and make themselves appear to shine more.

Rarity herself is lost in the infinite expanse of light, mouth slightly agape in awe. The starlight reflects in her deep cerulean eyes, causing them to sparkle like gems. She couldn't possibly get any more beautiful.

"Rarity, you are the most beautiful mare I have ever met. Your radiance is only matched by the very stars above us."

She cuddles in close, locking eyes with you. "This is simply, absolutely... perfect."

The minutes slow to a crawl as you lay there, wrapped in the warmth emulating from Rarity as well as the light of the stars. You feel yourself drift off, but stop yourself from doing so. You look over only to find that Rarity has nodded off, her gentle breathing causing your mane to sway gently in tune with the mare's breaths.

Not disturbing the mare, you pick her up and drape her gently over her back as you begin the journey back to her boutique. It is a short walk, but when gripped in the hand of semi-consciousness, minutes slow down and speed up of their own accord.

Finally, you spot the boutique. You gently push the door open and ascend the stairs to the second floor, where you presume Rarity's personal quarters are to be found. You look through several doors until you find a master bedroom with a luxurious bed as its centerpiece. You lay down the mare on the bed and tuck her in, noting that the sheets are made of some of the softest silk you've ever seen.

As you rise to leave, you find that the mare’s forelegs have become entwined around your neck. As you attempt to disentangle them without waking her, she only somehow manages to squeeze you tighter into her embrace. Eventually, you give up and crawl into bed next to her. The instant you do, she snuggles up next to you with a contented sigh. You find yourself lost in the soft silk sheets and the warmth of Rarity’s embrace. Soon, you can barely keep your eyelids from falling.

“Oh well,” you mutter as you yawn, then close your eyes.

A/N: Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter. I'm currently getting over a bout of strep throat, so the next chapter might take longer than normal. Sorry.

Jumpin' over the moon (river)

6) Jumpin' over ver the Moon (River)
Thanks to Fleetwood_Brougham for suggesting the song that inspired this chapter. If you have a tune that you think I would like, feel free to tell me about it in the comments.

A gentle chorus of song birds outside the boutique rings in the new morning. A breeze drifts its way through an open window, flitting lazily around the bedroom before falling on you, stirring you from slumber. You open your eyes to find yourself in the same position you fell asleep in: on your side, and facing Rarity, whose arms are still entwined around you in a loving embrace. You move to place a quick peck on her nose, but decide against it; you don't want to wake her. You instead decide to simply stare at her sleeping figure and allow the tranquility of the moment to pull you back into the depths of sleep.

The moment is short lived, however, as your partner's eyes pop open, revealing two dazzling cerulean sapphires. "Oh, hello..." she mumbles as she begins to wipe the sleep from her eyes.”You're in my bed.... Wait.... YOU'RE IN MY BED?!" both of you snap awake as Rarity instinctively retracts her forelegs from around your neck. "Why are you in my bed?! Explain yourself!" she hisses, glaring daggers into your eyes.

You stumble backwards and fall out of the bed, striking your head against the floor with a sickening crack. You attempt to stand as stars dance in your eyes. "Ow... You fell asleep last night when we were stargazing. I carried you home, but you wouldn't let go of me when I tried to leave. I didn't want to wake you, so I just crawled into bed with you. I apologize if I offended you..."

She remains skeptical, but her features soften. "Oh... Well, I guess you were just trying to be nice..." she hangs her head and sulks. "I'm sorry I snapped like that. It's just... I've had a few... Unpleasant encounters along the lines of waking up with stallions in my bed."

You chuckle softly. "I can't imagine that would be very pleasant at all." You both laugh as you get out of bed and stretch. Rarity throws on a plush, white bathrobe before turning to you. "I'm going to draw a bath. You're welcome to head downstairs and help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen."

The concept of free food entices your appetite as you nod and exit the room, hearing the sound of running water behind you. You descend the stairs and wander your way into the kitchen. It is painted with a tasteful yet vibrant purple, intermingling with eggshell white floors and ceilings. The sparkling white tiles squeak softly under your hooves as you walk, indicating that have been recently polished. The pantries themselves are filled in abundance with all sorts of fancy pastries, creams, grains, wheats... Everything one expects to find in a luxury restaurant.

"Hmm... Perhaps I could whip something up for Rarity," you mutter to nopony in particular. You levitate several pots and pans, and get to work.

-----

"Hello? Helloooo?" Rarity walks down the steps and into the main floor of the boutique. She has finished her bath, but can't seem to find any trace of you. "Perhaps he's still in the kitchen," she mumbles, lazily trotting to the stairway that leads to the kitchen. "Hello? Are you in he-" she steps into the kitchen and freezes, mouth agape. "Oh sweet merciful Celestia..."

The entire kitchen is covered floor to ceiling in flour. Several splotches of gooey yeast stick to the ceiling. A puddle of what appears to be liquefied cake batter drips from the countertops. Food coloring stains the purple cabinets, creating a hideous brown slop that has a coagulated texture. A myriad of dishes, ranging from tiny saucers to monstrous pans lay scattered around the kitchen, most of them still coated in half burnt vegetables and yeast. Residual flour lingers in the air, causing her to cough.

"What... In Celestia's great mane... Did you do?!" her eyes flare, and her face turns beet red as she gives you a stare that could scare a manticore.

You point to the table, where two plates reside on. On it are several squares of an ornate looking breakfast casserole. "I made breakfast!" you flash her a toothy grin. "My mom passed down the recipe to me. It's the best breakfast casserole in all of Equestria!"

At first, it looks like Rarity is going to explode, but she represses her anger into a small but recognizable twitch. "Okay... Dearie." she takes a seat, and hesitantly puts a forkful into her mouth.

“Well?” you squeak expectantly. “What do you think?”

Her face instantly lights up. "My stars! This is amazing!" she immediately gobbles down the rest of it with vigor. "That was... That was the best thing I've ever eaten! You must tell me how you made it!"

You waggle for hoof. "Ah-ah-ah. Family secret. No exceptions."

Her face falls slightly. "Fine," she mumbles deflatedly. "Just promise me you'll make it again?"

You grin, nodding slightly. "Count on it."

She perks up and claps your hooves together. "Oh, wonderful, simply wonderful!" she stands up and tosses a towel to you.

"What is this for?" you ask, giving Rarity a confused look.

"That," she replies with a smirk, "is for cleaning up this mess. I'm certainly not going to get MY hooves dirty with all this." she smiles playfully at you before cantering out of the kitchen.

You sigh, staring at the small mountain of dirty dishes in front of you. You grumble, "I knew I should've just made toast."

-----

You stumble out of the kitchen and into the main boutique, your face covered in a crusty layer of flour and sweat. You thrust a hoof into the air and shout "Victory!" before collapsing onto a couch. Rarity walks over and hands you a towel as she represses chuckle.

"Thank you for doing that, dearie. I really do appreciate it." she plants a quick peck on your cheek, causing you to flush slightly. "Also, thank you for last night. I had an absolutely marvelous time. You certainly know how to treat a lady to a night on the town."

You blush even more at the compliment. "Aw, it was nothing, really. Just trying to give a special mare a special night."

She giggles coyly, the melody instantly making your heart melt. “I guess after such a wonderful time, I can tolerate you sleeping with me.”

“Hey!” you say in a vain attempt to defend your honor, “there is a difference between sleeping with you and… you know…” at the implication of sex, your face bursts out in a ravenous blush.

The color of your cheeks only causes Rarity to laugh harder. “Oh, relax dearie, I’m only joking. I think it’s wonderful that you’re so modest in that sense.” She punctuates her point by placing a peck on your forehead. “Now,” she interjects with a tap of her front hooves, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I really need to get started on the dress ensembles for those Manehatten fashionistas. You’re welcome to stay if you’d like, but Celestia knows I don’t have much to entertain you with around here.”

“That’s ok,” you reply. “I have another gig at the Pure and Petite tonight, and I’ll need to practice. If you want, I could stay here and play for you while you work.”

She spins around in a flourish of dress materials, accidentally knocking over a massive column of fabrics. It takes all your magical power to catch the tower and keep it suspended mere inches from the hardwood floors. As difficult as it is to keep the fabrics from falling, it is made no easier as Rarity flies into you at breakneck speeds, enveloping you in a surprisingly strong hug that threatens to break your concentration. “Oh, I would absolutely adore that! Thank you so much!”

She moves in to kiss you, but you wave her off, knowing that the sublime feeling of her lips on yours would break your concentration and send the pile of fabrics to the floor. “Sorry, but-oof-could you please get off me? I think I’m-ungh-gonna drop these fabrics.”

Rarity gives you a confused look. “What fab-oh.” She finally notices the towering pile of fabrics that is only barely kept from toppling over by your now failing magic. “Oh, yes, THAT fabric. Let me help you with that dearie.” She unclamps herself from your withers and reinforces your fading red aura with a vibrant blue sparkle. With some straining, you are both able to raise the shelf back to its original standing position with a residual thud.

Your magic dissipates, and you stumble backwards onto your haunches, miniscule beads of sweat breaking out onto your forehead. You wipe then away with a contented sigh. “Now that THAT’S taken care of, I think I’ll start practicing. Do you know where my saxophone is?”

Rarity points to a small guest closet. “I put it in there while you were out. It should be right in the front.”

“Thanks,” you throw over your shoulder as you trot over to the closet and retrieve your battered case from the closet. You trot over to a small reclining couch on the edge of the shop and sit down, gently placing the case beside you. Several staccato clicks resonate as you slip open the case and lift your piece.

Aside from the ascetically unpleasing layer of dust the instrument has collected while in its case, no real damage has been sustained, thank Celestia. You feel the contours of the piece slide into a natural position near your mouth from muscle memory, the greasy, metallic smell of cleaner pungent on the instrument. You lick your lips before placing them onto the reed and blowing air into the horn, eliciting a controlled wail that resonated throughout the boutique long after the notes had ceased.

Some acoustics, you think as you tune the sax. You always had a natural tendency to tune it a bit flat, but nopony really notices unless they have a trained ear for music. You pull out some sheet music that you want to learn for tonight, and smile as you recognize the tune. You’ve heard this song a couple times before, but never really bothered to learn it until now. The title, Moon River, belays the fact that this is another slow, romantic tune that ponies have come to associate with you.

After a deep inhale, you begin to read the sheet music. This particular version is just the instrumental version, but it is no less impactfully beautiful. The melancholy sighs of your saxophone echo through the halls of the boutique. You are to busy reading the music to notice Rarity put down her dress materials and walk over behind you, swaying slightly to the beat. She remains transfixed to you as you continue to play, oblivious to your audience of one.

As you reach to end of the tune and add a gentle flourish of improvised notes, the mare behind you bursts out in an enthused round of applause. The sudden racket startles you. “Ah!” you shout, bolting upwards and dropping all your sheet music onto ground, where it conveniently separates and plumes in a hundred different directions.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Rarity clasps a hoof over her mouth in guilt. “I just… that was really pretty.”

You blush once again at the attention. “Heh… thanks. I really like that tune, I just never really had an occasion to learn it until now.

You turn to begin the arduous task of picking up all your music, but are halted by a pair of hooves entwining themselves around your neck. “Promise me you’ll play that tonight? For me?” Rarity’s voice is hardly more than a whisper, as she is now mere millimeters away from your cheek.

“How could I say no to you?” your voice is sincere as your line is corny, but neither of you care. She holds you in a warming embrace for quite some time, the only sound coming from the soft rustle of leaves outside and the occasional squeal of a distant filly somewhere beyond the walls of the boutique.

Eventually, you break the hug. You plant a kiss on her snout before turning back to pick up your music, still scattered across the floor. A burst of bright red magic binds the paper and replaces it into your case. You take a sideways glance at the clock, disregarding it at first, but doing a double take as you see what time it is.

“Rarity, darling? I need to go to the Pure and Petite. The manager likes me to show up earlier so they can get a sound check in.

You can tell by her reaction she is disappointed, but understands. “Okay dearie, I’ll let you go. Just remember, I’ll be there when the place opens up for business.”

You smile at the mare’s willingness to support your musical endeavor. “Not a chance of me forgetting.” You peck her on the cheek before levitating your saxophone case with your magic and heading for the door, pulling on your jacket as you head out of the boutique and into the light of a late midday sun, putting a spring into your step as you head for town.

Tank!

7) Tank!

A/N: No, I'm not dead. Don't any of you read my blog?

The club has already begun to fill by the time you get there, a steady mass of ponies streaming past you into the Pure and Petite. You are genuinely surprised by the sheer amount of ponies that have already begun to cram their way into the bar. You walk up to the owner, Fresh Pints, who is nearly aglow with happiness.

“Hey man.” you comment. “What’s with the crowd?”

Pints turns to you, his infectious smile spreading to you easily. “Isn’t it great? We got a big advertising bump in the past few days. Lately, I barely have enough alcohol to go around!”

You shake his hoof. “Well, congrats. Glad to see the place is doing so well. I do have one thing to ask though.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

You put on a sheepish smile. “Do you mind if I save a table? My marefr- my friend is coming tonight, and I have a feeling she might bring friends.”

He waves his hoof dismissively. “Ah, shoot, that’s no problem at all! Hey!” he caught the attention of a nearby bouncer. “Rope off the table closest to the stage. I’m reserving it for some friends.”

The bouncer nods, grabbing a red, velvet-like rope from out of nowhere. He moves into the crowd, wading through the wall of ponies in the direction of the stage.

You silently exhale in relief. “Thanks Pints, I really appreciate it. I don’t want them coming all this way just to see me, then get here and not be able to see me.”

He nods. “I gotcha, no problem at all. Now,” he changes the subject, “go warm up. I need those pipes in top shape for tonight!”

"I hear ya. Thanks again!” you say as you make your way to the stage. You settle down in a small prep room behind the stage, rustling your music nervously as you wait for your cue to go on. Your hoof subconsciously taps on the floor, the only indication of your immense nervousness. The room itself is dank and rather cramped, affording its occupants neither comfort nor space.

A bouncer pops his head into the prep room, making you jump slightly. “You’re up, buddy.” That is all he musters before turning and exiting, leaving you to make your way up to the stage alone.

As you get up to the main stage, the conversation dies down slightly. A myriad of ponies mull around the bar. Some are seated at booths or tables in the corner talking among themselves, but a hefty majority are standing in or around the dance floor, eagerly awaiting the music to start. You grab a mike, tap it a few times, and then put it to your lips. “Hey there, everypony!” Upon seeing you take the stage, the crowd bursts into ravenous applause “Are y’all ready to dance?!.”

The lights flash on, flooding the bar with a rainbow of neon colors. You fight to make yourself heard over the uproar of the crowd, throwing out a massive saxophone lick to start the show. All at once, background music kicks in, stage lights pulsate to the beat, and the dance floor lights up. The floor is immediately crowded with ponies of all shapes and sizes, moving to the beat as you continue to pump licks into the music as you see fit. The club is electric, the mob of ponies on the dance floor shaking the building to its very foundation.

Sharp, staccato trumpet blasts intermingle with a fast-paced conga line to keep the song steady. The rhythm is contagious, and soon you can’t help but notice yourself start to sway and bob to the beat. Soon enough, you move into a saxophone solo. Instead of just running through some improvised licks, you decide to one-up yourself.

You hop up onto a nearby stage amp and go to town, high notes blasting from your horn at breakneck speeds. You don’t know what has come over you, but quite frankly, you don’t care: the crowd is going nuts, and you don’t want to be the one that kills the party.

A burst of applause follows as you hold a high note for what seems like eternity. The background music fades, leaving you holding the impossibly high note. As you feel your breath begin to leave you, you jump down from the amp in a massive crescendo of sound and lights that threaten to bring the entire bar down.

The music fades. You stare in silence for a moment at the crowd in front of you. Not a single pony moves, the crowd simply staring at you with dumbfounded expressions and eyes as big as dinner plates. “Woah,” you stammer. “I… I don’t know what came over me th-“

The crowd bursts into uproarious applause, a sweeping wave of shouts and whistles cascading onto you with the force of a tsunami. The sheer exuberance of the audience makes you stagger. You begin to feel lightheaded. “Uh, excuse me for a second.” is all you stammer before you stumble off stage and into the prep room.

You lean against the wall and take several deep breaths. What was that? I’ve never acted that… crazy before. What the hay was I thinking?

Somepony enters the prep room. You turn around, only to be assaulted by a pink blur of color. Your mind flashes back to the alley and you begin to kick and squirm, desperately trying to get out from under your attacker’s surprisingly strong grasp. You squeeze your eyes shut, awaiting the furious fall of hooves.

“OmaigoshyouwereAWESOME! How’dyoudothatsoloitwassoCOOL!”

The voice was female, and very preppy at that. “What… what the hay?” you mumble to yourself as you unclench your eyes. A fuzzy ball of pink comes into your field of vision. Her eyes, almost as blue as Rarity’s, seem to bore right through your head and out the other side.

“Pinkie, let him go. I think you startled him.” Rarity’s voice cuts through the crowd’s still present din. You sigh in relief upon hearing a familiar voice as the pink pony on top of you relents her barrage of questions and helps you up.

As you are brought back to your feet, you see three ponies enter the prep room. This only causes the room to become more cramped. At the head of the group, you spot Rarity. Her hair is done up in a complex yet subtle bun design. The other ponies, an orange earth pony sporting a hat, and the pink mare that attacked you, don’t appear to be dressed up at all. It’s a miracle that they were let through the door at all in their current states.

“Oh… Um-Hi Rarity. Listen, I’m sorry about the way I acted on stage. I just don’t know what got into me…”

Rarity rolls her eyes before turning to one of her compatriots. “He can be a little TOO modest sometimes.” You hear her mumble. She then refocuses on you. “Dearie, that was astounding! Why on earth would you be apologizing? That was by far the most incredible act of musical prowess I’ve ever seen! We had to fight through a throng of ponies pining for your autograph just to get in here!”

You blink in surprise. You had assumed that Rarity would find something to uncouth to be downright perturbing. You thought she would be embarrassed just to be seen around you. For her to unashamedly tell you that she loved it is the best complement she could have possibly paid to you.

“Wow… thanks!” you light up, the smile on your face rivaling that of the pink pony that knocked you down earlier. “So,” you say, redirecting the conversation, “Can I assume that you are Miss Rarity’s friends?”

The throng nodded. “Yes, I just thought I’d invite a few close friends,” said Rarity. “If that’s okay with you, I mean.” Her face turned deep red, and she put her hooves to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have invited them, I’m sorry!”

You laugh. “Are you kidding? I don’t mind in the least. Any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of mine. And besides,” you gesture broadly into the throngs of ponies outside the prep room, “I doubt a couple ponies could make a real dent in this crowd.” You all share a laugh, but are dwarfed by the sound of the crowd as they begin to chant “Encore! Encore!”

“Well,” you stammer, picking up your saxophone, “the crowd calls. I managed to reserve a table for you at the far end of the bar, if you’re willing to fight through the crowd to get there.”

“Oh, thank you dearie! That’s simply wonderful!” she embraces you quickly before leaving, inciting a massive blush on her face. You feel heat creep up onto your face as you realize you are undoubtedly doing the same.

You take a deep breath and collect your thoughts as you step back onto the stage. Your presence is met with wild cheers from the crowd, which has now grown beyond the safe limit of the bar. The bouncers are desperately trying to restore order, but failing miserably as more and more ponies move to the dance floor.

You make your way to the microphone, magically lifting it to your mouth. "Hey, everypony!" the ebb of the crowd dulls slightly as the collective eyes of the bar rest upon you. "Now how about we slow things down a bit? This is for the ponies feeling lonely tonight."

Without waiting for a response, you launch yourself into another tune. Softer than your previous tune, you tease out a soft and sweet melody, filled with simple but catchy chords that sooth the crowd almost instantaneously. Your audience begins to loosen up to the groove, swaying gently to the rhythm as the song progresses. Several ponies even venture to dance with their loved ones. You feel a tiny pang of jealousy knowing that you can't dance with Rarity, but hope to make up for it later tonight.

As the song ends, the crowd applauds, this time sounding much more tasteful and subdued than before. As you step away from the microphone, a nervous looking stallion approaches the stage.

"Hey... Hey, do you know any tunes by Jr. Trotter?"

You snort dismissively. "Do I? You got anything in particular in mind?"

The stallion shrugs. "Not really, I like all his stuff pretty equally."

Clearly, this pony has astute musical taste. "Good man!" you say. "I'll get right on that."

His face lights up, though he appears no less nervous. "Cool! Thanks, bro." With that, he turns and skitters away.

You decide on a tune, then step up to the microphone. "This one's for the nervous chap over there." you say as you point to the stallion in question, causing his face to burst into a formidable blush. "One, two, three, four!"

-----

The crowd has all but disappeared from the Pure and Petite. It is well after two in the morning. The only ponies that are left in the bar are Rarity, her friends, and several heavily inebreated stallions who are being not-so-gently escorted out by one of the bouncers. You consider playing one more song, but seeing as your audience is rapidly becoming nonexistent, you decide to pack it up for the night.

"Hey man." Fresh Pints walks over to you, an exhausted look in his eyes. There are several deep rings under his eyes, and his voice sounds tired and deflated. "Thanks for helping to keep that crowd under control. We were pretty close to having to shut the bar down."

"Such is the power of music." you mutter sarcastically. You both laugh as he hands you a well-sized bag of bits. "Hey, you wanna chat for a while?"

"Sorry," Pints replies. "I have to help clean up. This place is a mess!"

You nod understandingly. "That's okay. I should at least try to get some sleep tonight."

As Pints walks away, you deposit the bag of bits into your case and begin disassembling your saxophone, using care to put each individual component into its proper place.

"Hello." the voice behind you is accompanied by a set of hooves entwining themselves around your neck. You panic, dropping the pieces of your instrument to the floor where they land with a dull clatter.

"Oh, my! I'm sorry!" you recognize the voice as that of Rarity. You turn to see her with an apologetic look on her face. "I didn't mean to startle you! I'm sorry!"

You chuckle. She looks very cute when she's worried. "It's okay, I'm the one that panicked." you magically lift the pieces of the saxophone back into the case. "So, where are your friends? Did they leave?"

"Oh, no. They just went to powder their noses."

You stare back in mock confusion. "Well, it doesn't seem to me that they would be the type to worry about appearances."

Rarity snorts derisively. "Oh, you have no idea." a smile breaks onto your face, and you lean in to peck her on the cheek. A bright blush forms on both your faces as-

"Just what the hay are you doin'?" you panic again at the voice, attempting to run away but instead stumbling over your own hooves, flailing about pathetically as you land with a thud. You attempt to get up, but a surprisingly strong orange hoof is placed on your chest, rendering you immobile. "Did I just see what ah thought I saw?" the voice has a distinctly country accent. "How dare you make a move on mah friend like that? Ah knew there were scumballs like y'all in this world, but I had hoped there wouldn't be one in Ponyville!"

You struggle under the weight of the hoof. "So, you're one of Rarity's friends," you shoot a pained expression at Rarity. "Rarity, didn't you tell them?"

She gives you a sheepish smile. "I... may have neglected to mention it."

The hoof relents slightly, allowing you to get a view of your attacker: An orange earth pony with a rather large hat and a trio of apples as her cutie mark. You recognize her as one of the ponies who came into the prep room with Rarity earlier. "What... what are y'all talkin' bout?"

Rarity finally steps in and coaxes the pony off of you. You let out a sputter before dragging yourself to your hooves. "Applejack, dearie, this is my coltfriend. We met a week back at this very place."

An excited voice pipes up from somewhere beyond your field of vision. "A coltfriend for Rarity? This calls for a party!"

The orange earth pony's face turns to one of shame and embarrasment. "So...that's yer coltfriend... and ah just-"

"Stepped on him, yes." finished Rarity.

"Oh... he he. Sorry partner." She extends a sheepish glance to you.

You begin to speak, but are cut off by the rest of Rarity's friends squealing in delight. "Oh, Rarity I'm so glad that you found a nice stallion!" the mares form a barrier between you and Rarity as they her as they berate her with questions about your relationship.

Unable to penetrate the wall of mares as they congratulate Rarity, you sigh and return to putting away your saxophone. As the mares finish their congratulations, they begin to leave, one after the other, until only you and Rarity are left.

"Well," you say, rubbing the sore spot on your chest where Rarity's friend had pinned you down, "your friends are very... interesting."

She laughs, as she replies, "You have no idea." she walks over to you and rests her head against your shoulder. "You really were wonderful tonight. Thank you."

At the mention of your performance, your face turns bright red. "Thank you. I thought that you would find my performance rather... uncouth, what with all the jumping around stage and whatnot."

"Well, it wasn't the most graceful thing ever, I'll admit that. However, it was very fun to watch, and the way you controlled that crowd was masterful. I honestly thought they were going to riot until you calmed them all down."

Your blush intensifies at the string of complements. "Shoot, you flatter me." is all you can think to reply.

Before you know it, your lips are meeting hers in a passionate display of affection. Just as quick as the kiss happened, it ends as Rarity pulls away, her eyes half closed in a seductive pose. "Would you care to stay at my place for the night? I just got a new bottle of champagne, and I don't know of a better person to share it with than you."

You smile gently as you peck Rarity on the cheek. "I would love to." She leans against you tenderly as you exit the bar and begin the trek back to the boutique, the late night stars enveloping you in a soft blanket of light.

P.S. Beaucoup thanks to Swiperthefox for suggesting the music that inspired the chapter as well as proofreading it for me. Go check his stuff out, I'm sure you'll love it. Also thanks to my local Chinese place for staying open ten minutes after closing to make me the chow mein that I am currently eating.

Flying home

Here's the new chapter, finally. Sorry for the lateness, but real life kinda happened, and I got sidetracked. But no matter! On to the story!

"Ow, my back..." you pry your eyes open, allowing the first fleeting rays of sun to enter your vision. You arise in the same alley you fell asleep in, still wrapped in your coat to ward off the night's chill. You sigh, rubbing your head as you sit up to survey your surroundings. The alley has served as a shelter for you since you arrived in Ponyville. You stumbled upon it your second night in the town, immediately moving your meager possessions into the dank but homely recluse. A roof from the next-door tailor's shelters the enclosure from any elements, providing a near-perfect home for you.

Unfortunately, the cobblestone floor doesn't have much lumbar support, and you feel your spine snap as you sit up. "I'm gonna feel that tomorrow," you mumble as you rise to your hooves, shaking yourself vigorously to rid yourself of any loose dirt or Celestia knows what else that was sticking to the street.

Living on the streets isn't in the least bit glamorous, but when you travel so often, permanent lodging becomes an unnecessary expense. With money as tight as it is, just buying necessities is hard enough, let alone buying a house. You haven't given up hope, though: with every passing gig, your bag of bits increases in size. Eventually, you hope to buy a somewhat decent house and get off the streets for once. You can already imagine bringing Rarity over, having a candle-lit dinner, then snuggling next to a fireplace...

You snap yourself of of that daydream. Ah ah ah, you tell yourself, Don't dream about it; make it happen!

The self-pep talk does nothing to boost your mood though. Your back is still killing you, and you have absolutely nothing to do today. You make your way out of the alley, lazily cantering towards the town market, eager for some breakfast. As you round the corner, your eyes lock onto a familiar looking mare. You feel an chill shoot up your aching spine as you attempt to about face and run away.

"Oh, hello dearie!"

Oh no, you think, freezing in place. The mare in question walks over to you, an eager smile plastered on her face. "Oh, um... Hello Rarity."

"Hello!" she kisses you lightly on the cheek. "I didn't know you had planned to come to this part of town today!" her eyes squint suspiciously. "That's odd... you're covered in dust. You haven't been sleeping in any back-alleys, have you now?"

Her tone is playful, but quickly turns serious as you flash a sheepish grin. "Well..."

She immediately pushes her face to yours, her eyes full of fire. "Surely, you don't mean to tell me you've been sleeping in an alley for the past month... right?"

Every fiber of your being tells you to lie, but you simply can't bring yourself to do that. "Well, I guess I should be honest." You sigh. "Yes, I've been sleeping in that alley over there for the past month. I can't afford lodging at the moment, and it's honestly not that bad aside from the lack of arch support.

The look on your marefriend's face tells you she is about to faint. You tense up, ready to spring to her aid if she falls. Surprisingly, she wobbles slightly but stays standing. "Darling... of all the terrible things out there, that is simply. The worst. Possible Thing! Her dramatics never cease to amuse you, and even now you can't help but giggle at the mare's over the top theatrics. "I can't have such a fine colt as yourself wither on the streets." She grabs you in a magical vice and begins to carry you towards the town square.

"Woah!" you feel yourself begin to get nauseous as you are spun and twirled in mid-air. "Where in Celestia's name are you taking me?"

Rarity brings you down to eye level with her. Her eyes are brimming with a spark of determination as she formulates a mental plan before you. "We, my dear stallion, are going house shopping."

-------

"Wow... this looks-"

"Classy? Elegant? Luxurious?"

"Expensive." You stand inside of a massive three story home near the town square. The arching ceilings are supported by massive granite columns, each easily as wide as you. The entire home seems to be finished in gold and jewels, the precious metals reflecting sunlight into your face as you glance around the house.

"So what? Have you seen the upstairs spa room? It has seven hundred square feet of sauna. Seven hundred square feet!" she emphasizes her point by shaking you vigorously.

"I'm sorry Rarity but I just can't afford this one. For Celestia's sake, that pool over there is filled with gold!" You were never one to spring for luxury, and this house just didn't appeal to you in the slightest. As much as rarity loved it, you weren't about to go blow such an exorbitant amount of bits on a house you didn't want to live in.

Her ears droop at the news, the glow rushing out of her eyes as you deliver the news. "Oh well... I guess a solid gold pool is a bit over the top. " Her mood is only beset for a moment. That fire in her eyes reignites as she bursts through the front door in a flourish, attracting a few unwanted stares. "To the next house!" she practically shouts.

Your face turns bright red at the sheer amount of unwanted attention. "Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into?"

Your seemingly rhetorical question is answered by a large scroll being shoved in your face. "Well, I've planned our romp through Ponyville right here. We'll hit every single open house in town. And it will only take us..." she looked at the position of the sun in the sky, then back down to her map. "45 hours, three minutes, and 24 seconds accounting for three hours of sleep and a bathroom break. Now, first we-"

"Rarity! Slow down!" you speak up over her now boisterous tone, gently levitating the map to you. "I don't need to look at every single house in Equestria, you know." You stare at the map for a few seconds, duly noticing that there are well over 50 houses on this list. She really went all out on this one, you think.

"Here, how about this one?" you point to the middle of the list. "It's got a loft, it's close to the music store, and it's pretty cheap?"

In response, she merely flicks you in the face with her tail. "Oh, pish posh. That's so boring." A deadpanned look from you tells her there is no negotiating this issue. "Oh, fine." she pouts with an exasperated huff. "We'll do it your way."

You snuggle up next to her, allowing your collective warmth to envelope you for a brief moment. "Thank you. I just want a nice, normal house. Not..." you sweep your hoof towards the mansion behind you, "all that. It's just not me."

Rarity rolls her eyes. "Well, you were always one for modesty."

You grab the map, content on making the trip to your potential house as quick as possible. The thought of having your own real house is actually starting to excite you. "Then let us not make haste. Partamos!"

She cocks her head to one side, giving you a confused glance. "What on earth are you saying, dearie?"

You sag your shoulders as your ears flop lifelessly around the sides of your head. "Never mind, let's just go.

-----

The house you have entered is a single story bungalow carefully placed near the center of town. It's most discerning feature has to be a small, transparent dome jutting out from the roof. "That must be the loft," you mutter as you walk in, followed seconds later by Rarity.

"Oh my. Are you sure you want this house? It looks so... uncouth, what with the loft and all."

You ignore Rarity's judgement and make your way into the house. "Let's at least look at it. I would love to see the inside, at least."

Rarity huffs, then follows you inside. The inside of the house is pretty normal as far as homes go. Freshly polished linoleum shines in the kitchen, giving the room an air of sanitation. The living room and aforementioned kitchen are separated by a half wall, giving the room an open and airy feel. A bathroom sits in the rear of the building.

However, the finite details of the home are lost on you, as you make your way to the place's most alluring feature: the loft. The only access is by a large wooden ladder leading up to a trap door. "Rarity, I'm going to-" you turn to realize Rarity is too concerned with the miniscule aspects of the house to notice the massive domed edifice. You shrug and decide to venture up yourself.

As you remove push the trap door and raise yourself into the loft, you notice several unusual architectural designs incorporated into the room. For one, the entirety of the loft is circular. The room itself is unfurnished, with deep brown hardwood floors slightly scuffed from use. But what really steals the show is the roof. The domed roof is made entirely of glass, allowing a three hundred and sixty degree view of the afternoon sky. When standing in the middle of the room, it looks as though the sky itself is your ceiling.

You stand in the center of the room, staring at the sky through the bubble of glass above your head. The walls are just high enough to obscure the rest of town, but low enough to give you an unparalleled view of the world above. Vibrant hues of orange and yellow thrown off by the sun dance around the room, burning through the tiny cloud layer and flitting about the room as they please.

As you gaze, transfixed by the movement of the sun's rays, Rarity decides to take a look at the loft. She enters with a soft clatter. "Hey, have you seen-oh my." She is left absolutely speechless at the sight of the multitude of sun beams parading themselves around the room, casting odd shadows that seemed to float around the room.

After several minutes of standing there, jaws agape slightly, you turn to her. "I think I just found my new home."

-----

You never liked paperwork, and as you just found out, buying a home involves a lot of it. You sigh, pushing the stack of papers away from you and setting down a quill. "There, all done. This house is officially mine!" Despite losing most of your savings in the deal, you feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that you finally have someplace to call home.

As you lean back on your haunches, a contented smile of your face, Rarity sneaks up behind you and plants a kiss on your cheek. "I'm so glad you like it, darling. I'll admit, it is a bit... spartan. However, we can rectify that with some shopping!" she says the last word in a sing-song tone.

You groan at the thought of more work. "I think I'll wait until tomorrow. It's getting late, after all."

Rarity takes a peak out one of the windows. "Hmm, I guess you're right."

You stand up and walk over to the now completed pile of paperwork and begin sorting it into smaller, more manageable piles. "You know, you're welcome to stay here tonight. It's a full moon, and we'll have a lovely view from the loft."

Rarity squee's in delight. "Oh, that would be simply magnificent! I would love to!"

You extend a hoof. "Then let us depart." she takes your hoof and allows you to lead her up to the loft. Once up there, however, a confused expression crosses her face.

"Um... where will we sleep? There's no bed."

You spread a blanket across the hardwood floor and flop down onto it. "Right here, silly!"

Rarity looked at you abashfully. "On... on the floor?"

You roll your eyes. You know your marefriend's phobia of dust is a tad bit excessive, but you just chalk it up to one of her quirks. "Yes, on the floor. Trust me, the view will be well worth it."

After some internal debate, she nods, and lies down next to you stiffly. You wrap your foreleg around her shoulders, and she relaxes slightly, allowing herself to snuggle up next to you. "Now, we wait for the show to start."

You needn't wait long. As the last fleeting rays of sunlight crawl up the walls and disappear, the sky seems to explode with a new light, this one white and opalescent. Millions upon millions of stars cascade into existence above you, throwing dimly lit shadows across the room. As the moon rises with the help of Luna's magic, it bathes the loft in white light. It almost looks as though the room is a blank canvas that somepony has doused in white paint.

You tear your eyes away from the spectacle and look at Rarity. Her eyes are completely lost in the vivid display of natural lighting. Not wanting to spoil the moment, you refocus your gaze on the aerial light show. You sit transfixed for what seems like hours, all sense of time lost as the simply majesty of the night sky gently begins to lull you to sleep. You attempt to keep your eyes open, but find the normally automatic task impossible. You sigh, and drift off, the pleasant aura of the room guiding you into peaceful slumber.

Well, there ya go. Blame my lateness on
1) My English essay on Civil Disobedience
2) TotalLostCause getting the song Pressure stuck in my head
3) My Marriage to Starfall (Yes I was being serious. You thought I wasn't? That's just silly, you silly.)

Tu Vuo' Fa' L'Americano (Finale Part 1)

Sorry for this being a day late. Real life kinda happened, and I couldn't finish editing this until about 4 o'clock today. Please don't pelt me with e-rocks!

Knock knock knock

The loud knocking at your door starts the morning off rather unceremoniously. You force your eyes open to find yourself wrapped up next to Rarity in the loft. Her gentle breaths quiver her mane ever so gently as sunlight begins to stream into the room. A gentle ray of light hits her mane, making it glow with radiance.

However, more knocking cuts the peaceful scene short.

Knock knock knock

At this second wave of noise, Rarity’s eyes shoot open. You gaze at each other for just a moment as you begin to register your surroundings. “Sleep well, darling?" Rarity asks, shifting her mane in a way that makes your heart flutter.

Rather than reply, you reach over and caress her side in a way that says so much more than mere words. You hear more knocking, curling her head around and looking towards the door. Still half asleep, the two of you disentangle yourselves from each other's embrace and move to answer the door.

Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock
"Oh for the love of Celestia," you mutter as the beating clatter of hooves threaten to shake the whole structure. "I'm coming!"
You half climb, half fall down the ladder and run to the door before whoever is making that noise breaks your door down.

You reach the foyer and throw open the door. In front of you stands the pink earth pony you met at the Pure and Petite several nights ago. She wore an enthusiastic smile and clenched an envelope between her teeth. "Shurprishe!" she muffles before spitting out the envelope.

You stare at the mare in confusion. "Um, I'm sorry. I don't really get what's going on. Did I win something?"

"No, you silly filly!" she replies. "This is an invitation to a 'hey-guess-what-Rarity's-got-a-coltfriend' party tomorrow! And you're the guests of honor!"

At this moment, Rarity trots up behind you, gently running a comb through her mane. "Oh, hello Pinkie." She levitates the invitation in front of her. "Oh my, a party for us? Dearie, you shouldn't have!"

"Well, I did!" replied Pinkie, bouncing slightly as she talked. "I really had nothing to do besides cameo in chapter seven, so I figured, 'why not?'"

Rarity can only shake her head. "Whatever you say darling. We would absolutely love to attend the party."

In a seemingly impossible move, the mare suspends herself in midair with a squee of excitement. "Yay! I was really hoping you'd say yes! Cause otherwise there would be no reason to have a party. Of course, I'd still throw one, but it just wouldn't be as good of a party without my best friend and her special somepony. Which reminds me, I really need to find a coltfriend. Not that I need one, but sometimes it just gets really lonely and I could use somepony else to keep me company during my work days-"

"Pinkie!" Rarity's voice echoes through the house, bringing the pony to a standstill.

"Oh, whoopsie daisies. Guess I rambled a bit, didn't I?" You both nod, feeling rather amused by her baffling behavior. "Oh, well," she says, the flair returning to her voice. "I'll see you silly fillies tomorrow!" Without a second thought, she turns sharply and bounces off, seemingly oblivious to the forces of gravity.

You close the door and lean upon it heavily, sinking to your haunches. "Goodness... I feel like I was just verbally assaulted." Although it was rather interesting to see, you still feel somewhat drained from the encounter. "I think I need to go back to bed."

Rarity yawns, agreeing with your suggestion without having to say anything. As the two of you make your way back up to the loft, you throw a sidelong glance at a clock on the wall. Its analog display reads 5:51 AM. You stand transfixed for a moment, pondering just how in Celestia's name Pinkie could have summoned the energy to be so... Pinkie-ish at such an early hour.

A nudging on your flank interrupts your mudled thought. You turn to find Rarity vainly attempting to push you up into the loft. "Do hurry," she said with a yawn. "I need my beauty sleep."

You comply, mustering the strength to haul yourself up into the loft. You help Rarity up a moment later. The two of you collapse in a heap in the middle of the room, swaddling yourselves in a blanket before falling fast asleep.

-----

"Wow. When Pinkie said that she was gonna invite everypony in town, I didn't think she meant it." You stare dumbstruck at the throng of ponies assembling inside sugarcube corner. The crowd spills onto the streets, occupying the entire block with ease. Most simply meander around chatting, enjoying the cool night air and friendly conversation. As you stare into the epicenter of the party, you note the massive strobe lights and a blaring bass drop resonating from the building itself.

"I assume we have to go in there," you mutter to Rarity, who stands beside you with her tail entwined with yours.

"Unfortunately, yes. We just have to stop in and say hi to Pinkie and the gang. Then, we can just relax outside for the rest of the night."

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself for the inevitable entrance. You never really liked these types of parties, but a chance to cut loose for a few minutes almost sounds like fun. Still, you know deep down that you will regret walking into this party one way or another.

"Oh well," you mumble, extending your hoof to Rarity. "Shall we?"

She takes it, nodding formally. "Let's." She pecks you on the cheek, and you begin picking your way through the crowd to the core of the party.

Not surprisingly, Pinkie has made herself the center of attention. Limbs flailing and head bobbing frantically, she looks like she's having a controlled seizure on the dance floor. However, as she notices you and Rarity approach, she stops in mid air, once again proving that she is immune to the pull of gravity. "Omaigosh! How are you? How are you liking the party?"

You strain yourself to be heard over the din of noise coming from the speakers. "It's very nice! If you don't mind, though, we're gonna head outside for a bit and get some air!"

Pinkie's mane deflated slightly. "But you can't leave without playing for us!"

A confused look crosses your face. "I'm sorry... I don't quite follow."

She lets put an exasperated sigh. "You play saxophone, right? Well, go play some!" she gestures to the DJ perched atop makeshift risers blasting music from a turntable.

You blush, not really wanting to play for such a rowdy crowd. The last time that happened, you lost your tuxedo along with most of your dignity, and you do not want a repeat of that. "Oh, no I couldn't!"

"Yeah, you can." Pinkie waves frantically at the DJ, who cuts off the music with a scratching of vinyl.

The throng of ponies raise their dissent at the lack of music. Knowing that you are the sole cause only intensifies your blush. "I-I don't have my sax-"

Pinkie thrusts your instrument into your hooves. How she could've possibly got it was beyond you, but you decide to forget about Pinkie for now, seeing more and more ponies start to stare at you with disapproving glances. Finally, you give in. "Oh, alright," you muster, hopping up onto the risers. The DJ levitates a microphone to your side, which you grab nervously. You see a lot of ponies out there, and you would hate to disappoint them. You take a breath and bring the mic to your lips.

"Howdy, everypony. It looks like you all want to dance. Am I right?" The crowd responds by stomping the floors beneath them, shaking the entire building in the process. "I'll take that as a yes," you reply, wincing. Here goes nothing. "One, two, three, four!"

You launch into an old dance piece you had learned from your early years. A quick, bouncy riff gives way to hard, punchy melodies. You notice with some disdain that the DJ has put a bass loop behind your music, but you choose to ignore it. The crowd appears to like it more this way. You watch as several colts near the risers throw themselves around wildly, throwing their hooves up and shouting. You spot Rarity actually dancing near the corner. Your lips curl up at the sight of the mare finally letting loose a little.

You refocus your attention to the music, blasting a sharp, staccato riff into the crowd. They are just eating up your performance! You thrust your head back and pour your soul into one final riff before holding a high note, signaling the end of the tune.

The crowd cheers voraciously for you, causing your cheeks to turn bright red. "Uh, t-thank you," you stammer as you stumble off the risers and back into the crowd. You immediately spot Rarity hustling towards you, a huge grin on her face. "Oh, dearie, that was superb!"

Your blush intensifies. "D'aww, you flatter me. It really was just an old dance tune I had learned a while back. Nothing special."

"Well, I don't care. You still whipped the crowd into quite the frenzy, let me tell you."

"Yeah, about that," You glance at the crowd, which is now growing in size and intensity.You glance over and see two rowdy colts throwing themselves against the riser, the DJ screaming something about the expensive equipment. Your eyes dance from the scene to the mass of inebriated ponies stomping around nearby. "We might want to go outside before this party turns into a riot."

Rarity nods, a slight worry creeping onto her face. "That would be a good idea." You both chuckle nervously as you begin to edge your way out of the store.

You don't look where you're going, however, and you bump into a pony behind you. "Oh," you stutter, "I'm so sorry, I didn't look where I was-"

Your blood turns to ice as the stallion you just ran into turns to face you, a malicious smirk going across his face. "Wull, lookie here. I didn't think you'd be dumb enough to show yur face around here again." You blink furiously, trying to wake up from the nightmare this situation has turned into, but to no avail. The stallion staring you down is the same stallion that pummeled you senseless in an alley hardly a week ago after you rescued Rarity. It just HAS to be him, you think. It just HAS to be the same, exact pony!

"Dearie, who's that?" Rarity's voice attracts the attention of the thug.

"Aw, is that little lady yur marefriend? Looks like I'll just have to beat the hay out of both of you now."

Your pupils dilate with a sudden, infuriating rage. "You do not hurt Rarity!" You turn to her, your anger subsiding for a moment. "Rarity, get back to the house. I'll take care of this."

A look of horror spreads across her face. "No, are you crazy? You might get hurt, or worse!" Genuine tears of sorrow begin to well in her eyes. "I won't leave your side. I ran from these hoodlums once, and you were beaten within an inch of your life! There's no way I'm leaving you alone again. We’ll take this ruffian together!" Her voice is full of determination and bravado, but her eyes betray just how scared she really feels.

You sigh heavily, a defeated feeling in your heart. "Then, I'm sorry, Rarity. I hope you can forgive me for this." She attempts to respond, but you cut her off by summoning a red aura of magic around her. You pick her up and hoist her on top of the crowd. "Take her outside!" you shout. The crowd, mostly oblivious to the fight scene developing, carries her out the door. You swear that you can hear her voice shouting at you for the briefest moment before she gets foisted out into the night.

You breath a contented sigh before turning your attention to your adversary. The stallion has watched the scene unfold with a stupid smirk plastered on his face. "Huh, ain't that cute. Looks like I only need to beat one of ya now. Then I'll find yer pretty little marefriend-"

You silence him, smashing you hoof into his jaw. A chorus of "oooh's" responds through the crowd. Almost instantaneously, a fight ring forms around you, blocking any chance of escape.

Your attacker begins to circle you like a shark. "Wull, looks like you just dug yer own grave, punk. Too bad your pretty little marefriend isn’t here to see the fun. I wonder what I’ll do to her after I find her later..."

Your rage returns tenfold. "You do NOT threaten Rarity. Ever!"

The stallion puts on a face of mock horror. "Oh, no, what ever shall I do? Oh, wait, I'll just beat you senseless. That'll work nicely." He laughs hardily at his own joke.

You move into a fighting position and prepare to attack. It doesn't help that you are scared silly by the thug’s mere presence, or the fact that you've never won a fight before in your life. However, with Rarity’s safety at stake, you feel compelled to fight not only for yourself, but for her as well. You growl menacingly, and shout, "Bring it on!"

Your attacker smiles maniacally. "With pleasure."

Dun dun DUHHHHH! Don’t you just hate cliffhangers? Anyway, thanks for prereading this Mr. Thefox. Part 2 to come soon-ish!!!

Moonlight Serenade (Finale Part 2)

The ring of ponies surrounding you blocks any chance of escape. Your assailant, the same stallion who beat you senseless no more than a week ago, now circles you like a shark. "Nowhere to run, pipsqueak. Whatcha gonna do?"

You chuckle nervously. "Well, judging by the abnormality of your stature and your absolutely atrocious grammar, I'd say you aren't very intelligent. So, my plan is to steer you into a battle of wits rather than a physical engagement, therefore tilting the odds of this tousle in my favor."

Your opponent just stares at you, mouth agape slightly. "Wait... what?"

"Exactly," you continue. "so if you would be so kind as to let me go, I will be on my way-" No sooner have the words left your mouth than a pair of powerful hind legs smash into you. Thankfully, you remain conscious, but you note a disturbing amount of pain coming from your head.

"Okay," you mutter, shaking off the blow, "guess that won't work."

The smirk returns to your attacker's face. "You ain't gonna fool me with all that fancy vocabulur... vocabular... all that fancy talk of yours!" He begins to run towards you. "Time to fight," he spits out.

Thinking quickly, you slide to the left at the last possible moment, leaving a hoof jutting out in the stallion’s path. Just as you expected, he misses you completely, running into your outstretched hoof and falling flat on his face. The crowd lets out a collective 'oooh!'

The fall only succeeds in making him angrier. He immediately returns to his hooves, a look of pure rage in his eyes. You only have time to stutter "Uh-oh," before he is upon you again, swinging his hooves blindly. However powerful he is, he is still too angry to make coordinated blows, and you dodge them with ease.

"Come on!" he snarls. "Hold still!"

"Not a chance, bub," you quip, tripping him once again. Despite being able to fend him off, you are in no position to actually beat him. He is simply too big for you to handle alone. You silently thank Celestia that he doesn't have backup.

The stallion cuts your thoughts short by rearing up on his hind legs and bucking you square in the chest, throwing you backwards into a table full of food. Pies and cakes of multitudinous shapes and colors sail up into the air, raining down on the assembled crowd. Wild boos fill the room as ponies cover themselves from the airborne confectionery assault.

You reel from the hit, barely moving as your adversary rises to his hooves and pants heavily. "I'm gonna kill you, pipsqueak!" he spits as he staggers toward you. Desperate for some sort of advantage, you simply stare blankly as he comes closer and closer.

Just as he reaches you, you lash out violently with your left hoof, hitting the stallion square in the family jewels. His face contorts in agony, and he lets out a subdued squeak as he collapses to his knees. The crowd lets out a collective “oooh”. You stand up and shove a pie in his face, eliciting cheers from the crowd. The stallion, realizing he has lost, falls over to the ground. He curls up in a fetal position, moaning softly in pain.

The crowd goes nuts, ponies whooping and hollering excitedly. You pay it no mind, however, as you only have one thing on your mind: Rarity. You push your way through the crowd, desperately scanning the throng for any sight of her.

You burst out of the building and onto the street, throwing your head from side to side in a search for Rarity. Finding nopony but a few odd couples talking quietly amongst themselves, you run up to the first pony you see.

"Have you seen Rarity? Unicorn, purple mane, white coat?"

The pony is a bit offset by your raggedy appearance. "Uh, yeah. She got tossed out here a little while ago. She ran off that a way over there," he points in the general direction of Carousel Boutique. "Looked like she was cryin'."

Your heart sinks as your blood turns to ice. You've caused all this craziness, all this heartache. You and your stupid grudge match may have just cost you the best mare all of Equestria. Tears brimming from your eyes, you gallop off towards the Boutique, ignoring the pain from the multiple injuries you have sustained from the fight.

Injuries will heal. Her heart won't, You speed through town, the late night blanketing the houses in an inky blackness. Of all the stupid, terrible things you could have done, this has to be the absolute worst possible thing.

You feel like you have ice dripping down your neck. Why did you have to just dump her aside like last week's trash, all for what? The chance to hurt another pony. Rarity wanted to help you, and you just left her. Your own ignorance and gall stings you as tears begin to stream down your face. She was really something special. WAS something special. You went and screwed it all up, remember?

You finally spot the boutique, not stopping to regain your composure as you burst through the door with a clatter. "Rarity!" you struggle to speak as all the running finally catches up to you. "Hello?" You stand in in the foyer for a moment, coughing and forcing your lungs to take in the air your body craves. You straighten as your breathing steadies, looking around you. The place is completely dark save the sickly light of the moon weaving through the curtains and throwing several iridescent shadows across the room.

That's when you hear the crying.

Soft sobs emanate from upstairs, their mournful tones causing more tears to well in your eyes. You caused that. It's all your fault.

You push off and run up the stairs, hardly flinching as you run through the door and into Rarity's room.

The moon shines brightly through an open window, creating a spotlight of opalescent light on the floor. The night darkens the rest of the room. You turn to find the form of Rarity laying atop her bed, crying softly into a pillow.

You rush to her bedside. "Rarity, I-" A pillow is shoved into your face by a blue aura of magic, silencing you.

"You just left me. Just tossed me out when you didn't need me there," she stammers in-between choked sobs. "All over some stupid grudge, no less!" She convulses slightly with sobs, but she quickly composes herself. "I needed you, and what did you do? You had me crowd surfed out of the situation! You left me when I so desperately needed you next to me," she said, "And that is unforgivable. Please, just leave." Her hand gestures over to the exit, and she renews her muffled sobbing.

All this is too much. Your voice cracks, and you start to cry. "I had a reason, you know."

Almost as soon as you say this, she puts your face to hers, her eyes shooting daggers into yours. "And what was that, huh? Abandoning your marefriend in a time of need so you can go off and duke it out with some thug? What reason could you possibly have for doing that?" Despite the darkness of the room, she practically glows with fury.

"Because I can't stand the thought of losing you!" you no longer attempt to hold back your tears as they streak down your face. "That thug wanted to kill the both of us... if anything happened to you under my responsibility, I don't know how I would ever forgive myself!"

"Oh, so that's how it is," she snarls. "I'm just the helpless mare, and you're the knight in shining armor come to save me? I have news for you, mister: I am perfectly well off by myself. I don't need you!"

The words feel like venom, poisoning your thoughts and actions. You hang your head reluctantly. "You're right. You don't need me." She looks up, surprised at your agreement. "You are independent, witty, beautiful... you are absolutely perfect in every way, shape and form. You don't need me at all." you pause, wiping away the tears on your face.

“Darling,” she begins, tossing around on the bed. The moonlight across her long mane looks so gorgeous. “I...” She sturggles for words, feeling just as emotional as you.

"I need you." you turn slowly. "I had no intention of hurting you like this. It pains me terribly to see you like this. If you really think you're better off without me... Then, I'll go. I just..." Your voice cracks again. "I love you, Rarity. I really, truly love you with every fiber of my being. I want you to be happy no matter what, even if that means being without me." you lean on the door heavily. "Goodnight."

"Wait."

Your eyes open at the word. You turn again to see Rarity standing at the foot of the bed. Makeup has smeared all along your face, and her cerulean eyes are still wet with tears. "Do you really mean all that? I've had the whole 'I love you' line played on me so many times..."

You smile sadly. "Absolutely. I want you to be happy, and if that means having me out of the picture, then I will oblige. I just want you to be the best you can possibly be. I'd probably just hold you down anyway." You squeeze out a final tear, then sigh. "I'll just go-"

"Don't." Rarity pulls herself closer to you. "Thinking back about us, I realized that I was truly happy when I was with you. Not just through the good times either. I was happy when I found you the morning after you got beat up over me. I was happy when my friends assaulted you because they didn't know we were dating. I was happy when I found out you slept in alleys. I wasn't happy because of what happened then," she squeaks, "I was happy because I was with you. What you did was bad for sure, but despite it all, I don't want to lose you over it. You make me happy, and I never want that feeling to end."

"So," you stammer, "Does this mean you forgive me?"

She laughs slightly. "Heavens, no."

Your face falls, but you perk up almost instantly as you feel the feathery softness of her lips connect with yours. "I'm willing to let you make it up to me, though."

Your eyes flit over the spotlight of moonlight in the corner. "I have an idea." Your horn glows, filling the room with a red light. With a pop and a fizz, your saxophone appears behind you, suspended by a red aura of magic. You move into the moonlit patch of floor before offering Rarity your hoof. "Would you like to dance?"

She giggles, walking over to you as she dries her eyes. "You are ridiculous." You lock eyes as the saxophone begins to play a soft, sleepy melody, filling the room with the sound. Slow and gentle notes fill the room as you gently sway with the rhythm. Rarity gently nuzzles her head into your shoulder, sighing as you softly stroke her mane.

You lose all semblance of time. You can only thought the mare snuggled against you, gently moving in time with the music. Dancing with the mare you love.

Dancing, in a moonlit serenade.

Well, it’s over. I'd like to personally thank each and every one of you who read this story. It really makes me happy to see that you enjoyed my work so much.

I’d like to thank the following people who tracked the story:
125ironmaiden
6or4strings93
AcreuBall
AdamJensen-I want your drum set
akassan
Alchemic
Alvinsaur
anhero
Armada
asr3
Aucelot
AwesomeSauce57-You named my next story
Balancia
Bloodyfeather23
BlueBlazes
Bronzedragon
Brotisserie Chicken
Budinsky
CaecusDaemon
Cammacho
Castel
Celuna
Cold Front
cr4zy4zn
Crossgun
Da Dr P3PP3R
darkironyoshi
DashiexX
DJ-CRUSAD3R
DovahShy
Draetenth
Dwarfpunch
Eric7395
eviltomby
FazzinaW
Flutterguy_6996
Fox McCloud
Frizzy
GeneralGriffon
Gimli McBrony-You spot all my musical references
Glassed-Your avatar is adorkable
Gungnir7
hellfire
Hivemind-You didn't hesitate to point out my mistakes, and for that I thank you. Also, you made the first comment on my story.
Howitzer
hyourei
ImdahPwny
IndigoAura
JediSpiritMonk
jingles
Jolting8
Joseph
Just that Awesome
Kaelzoroden
Kirbyman100-Please don't drown me in Kirby's again. It was... unpleasant.
Kody910
LCProdigy
LeifGram
Lemming
lilsprout
Lonewanderer118
Lucky Smores
lurker234
ManDace
MandaTestMan
Mapleteal
marioandsonic
MC
Midnight Moon
Mixrz
Morning Frost
NaturalGlitch
Nichwolff
Nimbus
notacamper
NukaColaBomb
obrimos
OmegaBrony
OminousBrony
Oryutzen
OtakuMegane
Princess Lulu
Pyromanecer
RainbowsCrush
randomdude678
Rodek
Samusbot
ScootzTheRipper
senior-irish
Setrin
Slime
speckillz-I'm really sorry I didn't get a chance to use your music suggestion. If it's any consolation, Dancing in the Moonlight is on my iPod now.
spottideyes234-Good luck on your book
Starfall-We're married! Yay!
StarvingGremlin
Steelquill-I accidentally made "You" the exact same as... you. Weird.
SwiperTheFox-You are the greatest. Literally. Prepare yourself for that upcoming Strawberry cameo... It's gonna be epic.
Taddy
The Dreaming Immortal
ThePhantomWriter
thepony
thewaffler
the_scrap
Thunder twister
torrentialCAM
Tough Luck
Troypony
Valientbug
walkman
Whirring Gears
Wind Whistler is love
wrangel
Xennsid
Yokal
youngbrony
Zeraphim
ZettaLux
Zoom
Zuckess

I’d like to thank these guys/gals for favoriting this story:

ClovenHoof
Longshot
ManDace
notacamper
OminousBrony
The Writer of Fate
the_scrap
walkman
NaturalGlitch
Oryutzen
Hivemind
Howitzer

I'd like to give a special thanks to SwiperTheFox, whose magical proofreading powers and encouragement helped make this story possible.

Thank you all.