Professionalism

“Hey. Hey, wake up!” The lyrist grumbled as the stallion shook her, her horn lighting up with yellow magic that started to push him away from her, the musician snapping out of slumber. “Come on! You said we had to leave in the morning, didn't you?! It's already 10:45, and we need to get out of this room by 11 to check out and head to the station!” He felt the magic pin him against the wall slowly, becoming unable to move as she stood up quietly.

Rubbing her eyes, the mint green mare murmured a small obscenity before looking at him, her eyes opening slowly to glare at the maestro. “...What?” The magic dissipated as she tilted her head, cocking her eyebrow as she started to slowly stretch.

Great. She's not a morning kind of pony. It would have been nice to know this *yesterday!*** He growled a bit as he gestured to the clock, eyebrows furrowed as he watched the seconds ticked by... “We need to get out of here in 15 minutes, and head to Celestial Center by 11:30!” The mare walked past him, eyes closing as she walked over to the bathroom, a look of complete disinterest on her face. “I-” The stallion felt his stomach rumble, his eyes lighting up as he turned to face her with an almost desperate smile. “I'll pay for food when we get near the station! I know a good hay burger shop!”

Step watched as the mare's movement speed seemingly tripled, quickly freshening up before grabbing her saddlebag, a twinkle in her eye. “All I needed to hear. Come on, Maestro Bitbags.” Step exhaled, his anger now relief as he adjusted his tie in the bathroom mirror before walking out.

“Let's go then, Ms. Heartstrings. Sorry about the-” Lyra proceeded to magically ruffle his hair, a smile on her face as he grumbled, fixing his now messy coiffure.

“Hey, don't worry about it...and what did I say about calling me that? Don't gotta be so formal, y'know?” The stallion shook his head, getting in line to check out... “And what're you sorry for? That I couldn't wake up in a,” she paused, the grin on her face wide as a mile as she leaned toward him. “TIMELY manner?”

The maestro stoically ignored the lyrist's attempt at humor, checking out and walking out the hotel's doors as the string player kept the smile on her face, even as they boarded the taxi carriage to Celestial Center. “Didja get it? 'Cause you're a conductor? And you keep-”

“Yes.”

“You know,” Step watched the mare finish off her hay fries, sailing the paper boat into the garbage and wiping her lips. “I gotta wonder why you said 11:30. I mean, we leave at 12; you know that. Well, not that I'm complaining: I got free food out of the deal.” Lyra chuckled, patting Step's back amicably as the maestro shook his head.

“It's best to be early for any occasion, Lyra. I would much rather avoid having to sprint to an important event...especially one as important as meeting the Princesses, wouldn't you?” Step raised an eyebrow, a small smile on his face as she proceeded to, once again, mess up his hair. “Why do you insist on doing that?” He grumbled, attempting to fix his mane as she giggled. “Have you no idea the lengths I go through to manage this to begin with?”

“Actually, yes.” The mint musician magically pulled her lyre out of her saddlebag, adjusting the tuning a little before strumming a chord, a smile on her face as she spotted the ever grandiose Celestial Center just a block away. “It definitely doesn't seem very difficult. As for why...well, I like seeing you all flustered over your mane; it's not like Beethooven was worried about his mane.”

“It's because he wore a wig.” Step bluntly stated, briskly walking into Center Station...before being pulled back by Lyra, who gestured to her saddlebag.

“I've got the golden tickets, remember? Chillax.” She easily navigated the sea of ponies in the station, Step following closely as the duo approached security...

“You two're headed to Canterlot, huh...?” One of the guards spoke, looking at the duo with a raised eyebrow. “I'll need your tickets, and some ID. Canterlot's being rough with letting ponies in; 'swhy we're here, see? No ID, no can do.” Step shrunk a little, Lyra gently patting his back as she simply took out her lyre and the letter given to her.

“I'm a part of the Royal Orchestra. Under order of Princess Luna, I was instructed to bring this stallion to Canterlot...I trust we won't have problems here?” Lyra raised an eyebrow, the guard bobbing his head as he looked at the lyre, the other guard looking at the royal seal on the letter.

The guards bobbed their heads, and both seemed intimidated as she took the items back, placing them in her saddlebag.“R-Right. Go on ahead; sorry to bother you two.” The maestro quickly stepped forward, Lyra smiling calmly as she lead Step to the train.

“I...I'm admittedly impressed at how well you handled that, but I need to ask: why your lyre?” The stallion raised an eyebrow quizzically, Lyra smiling as she walked inside the locomotive, tickets punched magically as she walked past.

“We get to choose an item we have with us when we join the Royal Orchestra for an Imprint spell. It's basically an easy way of saying 'I am who I say I am, and if you don't cooperate, things're gonna get messy for you.'. Convenient for getting into secure places without the hassle of guards at your tail.” The mare grinned, gently wrapping an arm around the maestro's neck playfully. “What would you do without me, am I right?”

“You know what?” Step smiled, chuckling a little. “If it weren't for you, my mood wouldn't be as elated as it is right now. I'm simply ecstatic, if it weren't obvious-”

“I'd expect ecstasy to be a little louder.” Lyra interrupted, her arm going to a cabin door with a smile, Step exhaling and shaking his head.

“We were having a moment, and then...” The maestro facehoofed, Lyra laughing as she pat his back roughly, a grin on her face as she pushed open the cabin door.

“We can have a moment in our first class cabin.” Lyra pulled him into the rather large, well furnished cabin, Step quickly managing to slip into a bunk bed after stumbling into it. “Let that ecstasy grow a bit more. We got 8 hours or so before we reach Canterlot; you'll have plenty of time to get all that 'yes' out of your system.” The mare laid back on a couch, closing her eyes as Step smiled, rising from the bunk bed as he heard the train's whistle pierce the air...

The locomotive chugging forward, he looked back at Manehattan, a small tinge of sadness in his heart as he watched it go from the large, grand city he knew to a speck in the distance. “Always depressing to see something so big turn so small...but...” He looked forward, and seeing a very distinct, purple, snow capped mountain in the distance, he couldn't help but grin. “The future is there, right in front of me! And no matter what the future holds...I'll cherish every moment!” Feeling a surge of energy rush through him, he felt his grin grow almost comically large as he watched the mountain come slowly closer. “Yes...! I'll-”

“One...” Lyra counted, Step looking over at the couch to see the mare idly fiddling with her lyre, the stallion toning down his grin to a smile as the string player plucked her instrument. “Don't mind me. Keep going with the emotional speech; I was really getting into it, y'know? I could taste that ham-" She paused, a grin on her face as she gently ribbed the stallion. "I mean passion.” The maestro calmed himself a little, simply sitting down next to Lyra and watching Canterlot grow closer as the smile on his face grew more by the minute.

“That's forty one times you've raised your voice in the past 8 hours. A paragon of professionalism, you are; nearly shouting at the top of your lungs...you're lucky I can soundproof rooms.” Lyra smiled, gently ribbing the maestro as they stepped off the train, Step smiling in return as he looked at Equestria's capital.

“We're finally here.” Canterlot's large buildings made Step feel quite a bit at home; it was as though he were in a fancier, ritzier Manehattan, packed to the brim with aristocrats, artists, and musicians alike. Before his mind could wander too much, his felt his eyes widen as he saw a certain Princess gliding down from above, carefully landing in front of Lyra with a small, almost reserved smile.

Immediately, Step bowed to Princess Luna: ruler of Equestria, protector of the night, and most importantly at the moment, his boss.

“Princess Luna! An honor to meet you face to face.” The stallion smiled brightly as the Princess of the Night outstretched a hoof, Step politely pecking her hoof before giving it a shake.

“We are pleased to have you here in Canterlot; your travels have taken you far...and here you stand.” She gestured to the rest of Canterlot, gently draping a wing over the stallion for a moment with a smile. “Come. We will lead you to the Castle.” She began to walk, Step following closely as he took in the seemingly vast city; it may have been on the side of a mountain, but it was certainly larger than he'd anticipated. “I presume this is your first time in Canterlot?”

The stallion bobbed his head affirmatively. “Yes. I had previously attempted to visit, but felt a thought push me from entering the city: What if I was ever tasked with playing for the Princesses? Sure enough, the day has come.” Step smiled, trotting next to Princess Luna as Lyra gently nudged the maestro with a grin.

“Don't get too cocky, now. You're not in yet.” Step cocked an eyebrow, head turning to face Lyra eye to eye. “Sorry to lift your spirits, but you honestly didn't think you'd get in without an audition, did you?” The stallion opened his mouth as if he were to object, but chose to mentally slap himself instead.

Of course, how could I be so *blind?** An invitation to Canterlot for such a position doesn't automatically mean I'll get the job. Let's think realistically here...* The stallion exhaled as he turned to face the Princess, whose smile (as small was it was) was a present reminder of her faith in his ability. She chose me for some reason, right? The thought soothed the maestro's mind for a moment, bringing a smile to his face as he observed the Canterlot elite looking toward the trio.

He could hear distant murmurs; about how they'd never seen that pony before, that he could be a emissary or an ambassador under a low profile. The feeling of importance only elevated as the trio neared the castle, Luna stopping in front of it and gesturing toward the entrance.

“Maestro Step, this is your audition.” The guards in front of the castle stoically looked at the young stallion, who seemed to shrink in the presence of the royal guards. “At this moment, the Orchestra's concertmaster is playing a cello piece inside the ballroom. There are three stipulations; all of which will make locating the ballroom more difficult. The first makes it so that the castle's layout is different; everyone in the castle knows of the altered layout, while you do not. The second is already in effect; the sound of your voice will be muted to every pony in that castle, yourself included.” The stallion raised an eyebrow, looking at the massive building...

“That means that I can't ask for help, even if I wanted to.” Luna bobbed her head affirmatively.

“You have 2 hours to find the room. When you step inside the room, all of the stipulations will be lifted, and you will have passed your 'audition'. Should you fail, however...Lyra will escort you back to the train station.” Step felt his heart sink like a boulder in water, and bobbed his head as he nervously shuffled a bit. “This is a test of your hearing and memory; a maestro should be able to pick up on the slightest of sounds, don't you agree?”

The stallion nodded again before taking a small pause, a confused glint in his eyes. “Wait, Princess. You gave me two stipulations; what of the-” Step realized his third stipulation as Luna's horn lit up brightly, feeling a change in the air...

The rest of her speech faded in and out of his hearing, and he watched her and Lyra teleport elsewhere, the once majestic castle now the most intimidating thing he could imagine. Alright...let's see if I can do this.