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.