Manehatten Misshap

The cake was good, I was confused, and the sun was shining. I was happy. Why? I don't know, but my adventure sense was tingling, and Pinkie Pie, although odd, had reinforced this.

I mulled about Ponyville for a while longer, then headed off to the train station to catch my train. This time the train was much bigger, and many more ponies were on it, but they all seemed to be content to sleep. It was an overnight express, after all. So I slept, dreaming about the days to come. It was so exciting! I had only been out of Seaddle a few times before, but never this far.

The station that the train arrived in was massive. Dwarfing the station in Seaddle ten fold. We arrived in station 63a. As I exited, I almost shivered from the excitement, this was going to be awesome.

I found a map of Manehatten fairly quickly, I saw the Manehatten Auditorium and Theater. That’s where I was to go, to find out about the music scene here. Then I'd have to find a place to stay for the night, but I was so amped I didn't even care at that point.

I got outside the of the train station, and the first thing that hit me was the size. Seaddle had big buildings, like ten, but the buildings here went on for miles and miles.

“Whoa.” I smile. Let it begin.

I call a cab.

“Yessir?” the cabbie asks.

“The Manehatten auditorium and Theater please.” I say.

“Going for the concert?”

“Concert? I just wanted to talk to some ponies there. I didn’t know they were having a concert.”

“Well, it's more of a recital, I guess, but yeah, hurry and you can make It in time for the last few performances.”

I smile again. “I'll pay ya double to speed.”

“Sure thing boss.” He grins.

When we got there, I got out and payed him, he insisted on me not paying double, so I didn't. Not too many bits in that bag you know?

When I finally got in, there was only one recital left, a gray earth pony who played the cello. It was the best cello playing I’ve ever heard. It was magnificent. After the show I went to talk to the director of the place. The ponies there were nice enough to let me into see him.

I knock on his door. “Come in.”

I open the door. “Hello, sir.” I say nervously.

“Come sit down.” he says invitingly. “I can't say I’ve seen you around here before, my name is Frederic  Bales, owner and operator of this magnificent establishment. How can I be of assistance?”

I cough, a bit nervous. “Hi, my name is Duke, I play the saxophone, I came here, from Seaddle, for some inspiration and hopefully a chance to perform here.” I cough again. “If that’s not too much to ask, sir.”

“Saxophone you say?” He eyes me closely. “Well, show me what you can do, and can you take off those glasses? I like to look at ponies eyes while they play, shows me if they've got heart, you know?”

I gulp nervously. I always wear sunglasses to keep ponies from seeing my eyes. Derpy was an exception, not many ponies were on the train, so I took them off, but I usually wear them in public. “Alright.” I say. “But be ready.”

He lifts an eyebrow as I remove my glasses and open my gray eye. “Well, I can say I’ve ever seen gray eyes before, but that’s not too odd, now is it?”

I open my other eye. “Ah, I see.” he says. “Now, that’s pretty cool, and funny enough, I’ve seen red eyes before.”

“Really?” I ask.

“Yup, onetime sompony came to one recital to watch Octavia play. She too wore shades, but she dropped them and I caught a glimpse of her red eyes.”

“Octavia? The cellist that just played?” I ask.

“That's the one.” He says. “Good isn't she?”

“Understatement of the century, sir.” I chuckle. “But let me play you something.”

I chose to play a piece that I wrote, I call it Back to Basics, because really what it is is quite simple, but I think, quite beautiful too. And when I was done, apparently so did Mr. Bits.

“That was very nice, Duke.” He says. “I've never seen as talented a saxophonist as yourself, how about you show up next Tuesday in the main auditorium, there's a group that practices here, and I'm sure they'd be glad to have you.”

OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH! “Thank you, sir.” I say quitely.