Professionalism

He'd been invited to Canterlot by quirky, if nice mare. He'd been given this strange assignment, which he didn't question...and for what? To be magically blinded after meeting ponies that were either completely indifferent to meeting him or seemingly had no sense of personal space. I feel like I'm floating. Where am I?

Immediately after the thought, Step felt his body's muscles relax as the feeling of weight returned to his body, his hooves hitting what seemed to be a floor. He felt his vision slowly return to him, and one thing was evident: everything was dark. There was no light; just a vast darkness in what appeared to be a void. It was impossible to tell what was ground, what was solid; he only knew what he stood on. Should I even take a step...?

"Maestro Step." Princess Luna descended from what seemed to be the vastness of space above him, the maestro immediately turning to her and bowing, ready to profusely apologize for any wrongdoings. "I have taken us to an isolated area; one where no one will hear us but the Orchestra. This information is to remain strictly confidential; do you understand?"

"Princess...I understand, but I'm confused. What is happening...? Why the odd audition? Why this?" He gestured to the dark area, Luna walking forward and silently gesturing him to follow.

The stallion's hooves slowly shifted, his hooves meeting some sort of solid ground as he walked next to the Princess. "This is a matter of importance, Maestro. Now...you may not believe what I'm to tell you, and that is alright. The others in the orchestra were in some disbelief as well." A set of five colored lights shone from the "floor", projections of the Orchestra members in the lights for Step to see. "I have come to realize that speaking daintily does little good for the sake of comprehension, so I will be blunt: this is no mere Orchestra." The projections of the Orchestra members turned into physical objects floating in the light.

"W-What do you mean by that, Princess? I believed my role was the Maestro of the Royal Orchestra; I never signed up for this..." Luna turned to the stallion, gently patting his shoulder and levitating him to the objects he saw.

"Permit me to finish. What you see before you are objects the members of this Orchestra carry with them to identify themselves to guards posted all around Equestria. I am sure Lyra told you that much before your arrival in Canterlot." The stallion observed the objects in closer detail: a trumpet, harp, cello bow, a pair of bracelets, and a lyre that Step had seen and heard many times on the train to Canterlot. "However, these are not merely tools of their trade in the Orchestra. You see, Maestro...the Orchestra is a subsection of the Royal Guard." Step could feel his grip on the conversation going...going...gone.

"I beg your pardon, what. It certainly explains that...Harpo's hooves, but the rest of them? E-Even Lady Octavia? You mean to tell me that they're-" Luna bobbed her head, the remaining members of the Orchestra appearing from the darkness, taking their possessions from the lights in front of them.

"Surprise!" Lyra smiled, picking up her lyre with a grin. "Look, you don't gotta be in such disbelief about it. I mean, I stopped you from poking my eye out with that baton of yours, right?" The memory replayed in Step's mind, and the stallion closed his eyes in contemplation. "C'mon, give me some credit, why don't ya."

It all clicks, now. Lyra's fast reaction. Why guards would let us through. Harpo's ability to crush my spine. The altered castle test. It all makes sense...but I have more questions than I do answers. Step looked at the Orchestra members taking their possessions, Luna walking up to the guards with a small smile.

"Now, then...you have two options. You can do as many others have done; you can reject being a part of this small Orchestra...or should I say, performing ensemble. You can do so at no cost to yourself; your memories of this event will be erased, and filled with an invitation to visit the castle and see a performance." The stallion felt his heart sink and his spine shiver, an small trace of courage remaining present in his ability to stand. These ponies...they're not what I thought they were, not at all. This...this is serious, isn't it.

She continued, patting Step's shoulder firmly, looking him eye to eye, attempting to quell his nerves."Should you accept...you will become a part of the Incognito Defense Force, stationed in Canterlot. You will receive pay for your performances as a musician as well as for your contributions to keeping Canterlot, and by extension,  safe from any and all threats. We have had a vacant home prepared for a newcomer for some time, and would gladly move you into it." Luna flapped her wings, sending her back with the rest of the Orchestra to give Step some breathing room.

"What will your decision be?"

The maestro closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths as his thoughts began to flow with a bit more control. Let's sort this out. If I join, I won't have to travel Equestria anymore. I would be settled in Canterlot with five other ponies as my co-workers, at least two of which seem amicable enough to at least speak to me. I would be paid, my house would be set, and my dream of working in the Orchestra would be complete. Why do I hesitate? His eyes opened, looking at the group: more specifically, the objects they held. Because I would become someone I'm not. I'm not a mercenary, or a warrior...evident in my stamina, or lack thereof. Of course, neither are they...at least, as far as I know. All I know is that I'm ill suited for even a small tussle. His irises scanned the objects they held before looking at their owners, who seemed to stoically glare at the maestro...except Lyra, who only seemed to smile at the outsider's various reactions to the news. The Princesses themselves invited me here...might have been through a proxy, but still. I don't know what use I'll be; I'm weak physically and can't hold my own. But it if means getting away from the life I used to lead...

Step bowed to the Princess before him, closing his eyes. With uncertainty and trepidation, he spoke slowly. "...I...I am yours to mold as you see fit, Your Highness." Princess Luna's horn lit up, a circle of light magically opening beneath Step, enveloping his body.

"Very well. You have heard the dangers that this job entails, and choose to accept the duties as the leader of the Incognito Defense Force...Step Lock. Stand." The stallion could feel his suit removing itself as he stood, the conducting baton inside being removed from it's pocket as he silently watched Luna closely observing his possessions.

The bluish magic around the clothing and baton began to shift in color to a bright white before a flash of light filled the room, seeming to blind everyone that stood for only a moment. The darkness returned, and what was his possessions were gone, replaced by another suit of much finer quality, and a strange conductor's baton that seemed to have a metal engraving in the length, the white aura that had enveloped it earlier still present. "Step Lock. You understand the importance and relevance of your position: to keep Canterlot safe from threats, whether they be inside or outside of the city. To be silent, to strike when the time calls for it, and to be the judge to those that dare to defile the laws that keep our city safe. The suit I bestow upon you is a symbol of your loyalty to this nation. It is a beacon of hope for those that are in pain, a never ending reminder to those that wish ill upon those in this nation: those that wish to bring harm will be found and punished justly for their crimes." The suit seemed to teleport onto his body, and immediately, it seemed to adjust to his size and cling onto him as though it were a second skin.

"With this weapon I bestow upon you, you recognize that you are the leader of the Incognito Defense Force, and one of the Personal Guards of Her Majesty, Princess Luna. You will be the perfect reflection of those that stand in your path: the judge of the crimes they have committed, and if given the order, the deliverer of death upon the wicked that dare defile Equestrian law." The conducting baton floated in front of him, and with hesitance, he slowly took it in his hoof and stared at it in disbelief.

"With this suit and conducting baton, you inherit the responsibilities of your fellow Orchestra members. With this suit and conducting baton, you become a leader: a vigilant beacon of hope for those lost in the dark of despair. From this day forth, you will be Step Lock: Leader Commander of the Incognito Defense Force, Personal Guard and Advisor to Her Majesties Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, Personal Guard and Advisor for those of equal or higher power, Protector of Canterlot and Equestria, and Maestro of the Royal Orchestra. May the perfect reflection of your actions guide now and forever." He looked in front of him, the darkness fading to reveal a room; the ceiling was supposedly the vast darkness of space, the group standing on a blue carpet with moonlight pouring in from above.

The Princess and the rest of the Orchestra stood in front of him still, moonlight illuminating more of the Princess as she lowered her horn onto his shoulder. "It is done." Luna raised her head, the rest of the group (some more willingly than others) bowing respectfully to the young maestro before rising, the Princess magically opening the door. "I leave all but one thing to you, Maestro: it had been decided before your arrival that Lyra Heartstrings shall be your roommate for the next year: you will, hopefully, more acquainted with Canterlot's workings then." The stallion affirmatively bobbed his head, bowing again.

"Thank you, Princess Luna. I..." He felt himself at something of a loss for words, and opted to just say what came to mind. "I'll try not to disappoint." Luna simply smiled, walking alongside them only for a moment, spreading her wings and flying out of the tower, door closing itself.

"So, roomie..." The lyrist gently poked the maestro's side with a smile, the stallion chuckling as he turned to face her. "I guess it's official. You're the maestro of the Royal Orchestra! Let's-"

"Ignore the greenhorn." Frederic stated, looking at the newly appointed maestro with cold indifference, stepping toward him. "You aren't ready. Such hesitance...already, a sign of weakness." Step found himself backing away from the pianist, whose statements seemed to ring in his ear.

Lyra stood in front of the maestro, gently pushing the maestro away as if to defend him. "Frederic...Luna kinda had a point back there, don't you think? We've all been kinda out of sync with each other. I think it'd do us good to have someone focusing our efforts." The maestro felt his smile return, stepping forward to look at the rest of the group...

"Focusing our efforts?" Octavia stepped forward next to Frederic as she spoke, Lyra looking at the cellist coolly. "I do believe that your lack of punctuality should be brought to attention! Neglect to mention that you never actually practice." This sparked a small flame in Lyra, who stepped in front of Octavia.

"Yes, just because I don't practice every moment of my free time-" Both sides of the argument could feel their resolve to argue diminish as Brass simply stepped between the duo parties.

"That's quite enough." Her voice was soft and silvery, but had an edge to it; befitting of the quiet mare that it inhabited. "Like it or not, it's decided." She looked at the young maestro apologetically, who had backed away from the argument just enough to avoid getting wrapped up in anything physical.

Brass stepped away from the trio, Harpo taking her place and gently nudging the trio away from each other. "...Rehearsals are usually on Wednesday nights at 7:00 in the ballroom; we usually run until midnight or later. If not in the ballroom, then the courtyard works. Does that sound good to you?" Step had been looking out the window, seeing Luna fly about gracefully before landing on another tower nearby.

Turning to face Harpo, the young maestro nodded, his gaze locked on his in an attempt to avoid the others that seemed...a little less than pleased at his current position. "It's settled. We'll rehearse at the usual times for you all. For now, I wish you all a good night; perhaps I'll see you around Canterlot." Step found his hooves taking him a bit quicker than he'd like down the tower, Lyra following closely as the rest trailed behind.

The Princess flew about, looking over at one particular tower just nearby with a smile. Swooping down into the relatively small room, she saw a number of papers suddenly disappear in a flash of light, the rainbow maned sister turning to face Luna with a small smile. "Sister...! What brings you here?" Celestia gently set her crown onto a nightstand, walking up to the fellow Princess.

"We have another in the Orchestra, Sister! 'Tis a time for celebration, methinks!" Luna grinned, hugging Celestia with a bit more force than necessary, the Princess of the Sun gently patting Luna's back with a larger smile.

"That's good, that's good. They will give your mind some ease..." Luna pulled away, eyes seemingly shining as she looked out the window, a hum coming from her mouth.

"The mind is already at ease, Sister. I am by your side, and the work that I've needed to do has lessened considerably; have times really been so relaxed?" Celestia chuckled, patting Luna's back.

"As hectic as ever. Rest assured, I have things under control: go, enjoy the night without a care in the world! I will see you as the sun rises." The Princess of the Night gently nuzzled against her sister's neck before flying off, Celestia smiling as Luna soared above the clouds, watching her little ponies enjoy the night.