60 - The big show (Part 5-End of Arc)

I spent most of the time between the act before and this final act getting ready. Some of it telling the stage manager and director that I would not change outfits, even for this. The rest of it, I had helped wrangle the extras up on stage.

I could tell a lot of the stage hands were shocked when the lead singer walked past them and out onto the stage to get ready. Only the curtains and the dark keeping who it was hidden from the audience, including the princesses up in the royal box.

I walked out, took my spot, and looked over with a smile. “You ready?” I asked and watched the pony nod.

The curtains lifted and soft lights came on, showing the white princess herself, sitting in that odd ‘pony loaf’ with thirty foals around. Cradled between her front legs was another Alicorn, this one was small with pink fur and a bright smile.

Fanned out among the many colts and fillies lay Burnished Shield, held by his big sister, Bright Spark. Over to their left were two older foals, a pink filly pressed as close as can be to a smaller paint colt, wrapped up in each others legs, looking up at the Sun Princess herself.

I, myself, sat on a stool just off to her right side with my acoustic guitar in my hands and the mic in front of me. To my side sat a stallion by the name of Perfect Chord, holding a 4 string acoustic bass. Just up behind the relaxed Alicorn sat a mare named Ringo Bingo on the drums, and lastly, over to her left was a mare named Tempo Time, who sat at a keyboard.

The crowd was silent, I suspect from shock. However, from the royal box, three voices floated out.

“Tia?”
“Celestia?”
“Auntie?”

It made me smile as I looked down at the strings on my guitar and started to pluck.

As I played in the start of the song, Celestia’s soft, powerful voice joined in. Yet, it wasn’t out to the audience, but down at the fillies and colts around her. All of whom looked up at her with awe and joy on their faces.

Here comes the sun, Do, Dun, Do, Do

The rest of us joined in singing harmony, but leaving the alabaster mare to sing lead.

Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right.

The of the rest of the little band came in, and joined my playing. A classic from an era before mine, but one I had heard my mother play over and over again on an old eight track in the kitchen.

Little Darling, Its been a long cold lonely winter
Little Darling, it feels like years since its been here

Again we all came in and joined her on the chorus.

Here comes the sun, Do, Dun, Do, Do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

As her voice dropped out, we, her little band, continued on, playing out the chords. It was such a soft song, so light and yet had so many good memories for me. I couldn’t help but really feel it right now. Glancing up at the crowd and the booths above it. Every single last pony, Gryphon, and creature were on their hooves or claws. Every last one of them swaying and looked to be lost in the melody of it all.

I glanced over at Celestia and saw her glance up, looking right at her sister at the rail of the royal booth. Smile met smile, not that anyone else would have seen the exchange. I however had been looking for it, only because I knew how the sisters felt for each other.

Little Darling, the smile’s returning to their faces
Little Darling, it seems like years since it’s been here

Once more the rest of us joined in singing. This time however a group of little voices, young and filled with the joy of youth joined in with us. Every one of them scooting closer to the white Alicorn, as her wings came out and pulled as many as she could reach in. I saw her tilt her head in, nuzzling, even as she sang, every single one she could.

Here comes the sun, Do, Dun, Do, Do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

I sat up a bit more and got into the strings a little harder and a tad faster for this part. Being lead guitar meant I really had to play as best I could.

Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes
Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes

By the third time in the song, it was like every single pony and creature was stomping hooves or clapping along with the beat, and loaned their voice to the words. This just made Celestia look up and her smile grow even warmer. No, not a Heartsong, just folks having a good time!

Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes
Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes
Sun, Sun, Sun here it comes

Now the song picked up pace and tempo, and we all did too. The audience and the colts dropped out, but Celestia’s voice lifted and carried even a bit louder and clearer than ever.

Little Darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little Darling, it feels like years since its been clear

Here comes the sun, Do, Dun, Do, Do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

Things started to slow down for the last of the song. Now it was just my guitar and Celestia, as she and I finished things out.

Here comes the sun, Do, Dun, Do, Do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right
It’s all right

There was silence for a few seconds, then just like a few times before the crowd went nuts! Of course it was the solar guard among the audience that were that much louder and a bit more rowdy. Just like their Lunar counterparts had been for Luna.

Celestia stayed in the pony loaf, and kept the the foals around her close. I slid up and set my instrument aside. Picking up the microphone I waited, then lifted a hand and gestured to get everyone to calm down. Waiting out the craziness I glanced back at Celestia who shrugged and smiled at me before returning to nuzzle Little Burnished who was currently resting right next to Flurry.

I turned back to the amphitheater and gestured again. This time most started to calm. I brought the mic up and spoke. “Well wasn’t that a great surprise” a bit more of my southern accent slipping out.

“That song, was a chart topper in the year 1969 back on my home world. A band named The Beatles was taking the whole world by storm. The song was called, Here comes the sun and it was then what it is now. A light hearted and fun song with some deep meaning if you let it rumble around in your head” I paused.

“I remember my mother playing that song over and over again while she cleaned house, when I was a child.” I smiled some and adjusted my hat.

“I think we will let Princess Celestia relax a bit, I am told” pausing and pulling out the last card from my pocket where it was folded up. I unfolded it and started to read. “That we will take a one hour break. Then the princesses will lower the moon and raise the sun, and conclude the Summer Sun Celebration.” looking up and giving a nod. The curtains again came down and closed up.

As I set my Gibson on its stand I stood and walked over to help wrangle the foals. A few parents were already coming in from the wings of the stage to gather up their little ones. I bent down even as Celestia slowly stood. Picking up a giggling little alicorn baby and putting her on my shoulder, legs around my neck. I winced as she drummed on my skull and saw the white goddess smile warmly at me.

I was lifting Burnished up, his big sister parked at my left leg, when she spoke. “You really are amazing with foals, Shane.”

I glanced down, gesturing for Pip and Diamond to come on over and join me. Looking back up at Celestia once more. I swallowed a little of the old pain, remembering my own little girl at this age group. “I try”

I saw her look, once again I had failed to hide my emotions from the sun goddess, and she put her wing out to rest on my arm. I pushed a smile to my face and just gave her a quiet “I am ok, just memories.”

We were cut off by a loud, in my ear squeal and the drumming of hooves on my skull once more. I shook off the minute pain and laughed as Celestia spoke up. “I think somepony needs her parents.”

I gave a nod and glanced down to make sure I had my little entourage of foals. “Ok lets go, Pip you take the last spot, make sure everyone” I paused “and pony” I continued on “stays in line, come on”

With a nod I headed off to the side stage and the stairs down so I could lead my little group back to their parents or in the case of Pipsqueak, Applejack who was his chaperone for the event.

Back up in the Royal box, I handed off Flurry who let out a big yawn as her mother took her in her magic pulling her over. Burnished, balanced on his big sisters back, Yawned too as she carried him over to her mother and father.

Pip looked at me and then at his special somepony and said “Diamond, do you want a drink or something?”

She gave a nod and off they went across the room to where the food service was. Leaving me standing alone for a moment. Pinkie Pie bounced over, god where does she get the energy? Shoving her nose into my hand as she was want to do, I stroked her short little pony muzzle and up to her poofy mane.

“You enjoy things Pinkie?”

She gave a nod “Yeparoony Shane! That was super cool, hearing all that music and stuff.”

Glancing down at her “I think you were pretty cool on the drums.”

She got a look and shook her head “no way, it was not cool at all, it was hot and I was sweating and then I got tired but…”

Putting my hand on her muzzle to close it lightly. “Stop, just say thank you” only for her to try and talk with my hand like that. “Mernk Mew”

I rolled my eyes but caught Rarity gesturing with her hoof behind me. Turning, once again I got a pair of pony lips attached to a very pretty blond maned orange mare, pressing to my lips. I kissed back, hearing giggles from all around.

Reaching up as the kiss broke and pushing her hat back on her head some. “That’s twice you snuck up on me. I am going to have to watch you.”

Applejack just laughed some at me and hooked one leg around my neck, leaving her standing on 3 legs upon the chair she stood on.

My part of the show was over, I didn’t have to introduce anything or be on stage. So I finally got myself a snack, and sat down on the balcony. Jackie tucked up under my right arm and pressed her head to my side.

Getting to watch for the 2nd time, the sun and moon alicorns go thru a ritual. Heads bowed to each other as they stood on stage. Then moving, circling each other so they were now on opposite sides from where they started. Again bowing to each other, before Luna lifted up, wings spread, legs spread, into the air. Bringing her wings down, her legs together, the moon in the sky slowly slid past the horizon. Once her rear hooves touched down, Celesia rose up in reverse of that. Spreading her wings slowly, her legs splaying out in time as the sun crept up and dawn broke over the world.

Once it was done the applause broke out, and the show was finally over. Time to go home!

So here I was, on the train car. It was a regular car so pony sized not me sized, I found myself on the floor. Sitting on a pillow, back to one of the benches. Jackie was up on the bench asleep, head over my right shoulder and curled around my shoulders and neck some. My right arm was up over two sleeping foals. Pip and Diamond, crushed up to each other, pip on my side, Diamond on his side.

In my lap as my legs were out, lay a little baby Alicorn sleeping. Her parents across from me both snoozing. Under my left arm slept a small dragon, his head shoved into the outside of my thigh, curled up like a puppy might.

I myself had dozed off, and found myself like this, glancing down, I spotted pinkie asleep at my feet. Three chaos creatures known as the CMC all lay on my right leg or pressed to Pinkie in a kind of pile. A very slight turn of my head showed Rarity was reading on a bench, and down at the foot of that bench was Twilight and Rainbow, curled up together sleeping.

I smiled very softly and dozed back off.

A few clicks, and flashes woke me up, seeing four cameras all hovering as pictures were taken. I blinked away the sleep, still being held down and used as a bed by little pony foals and one pretty orange mare.

Cadence just shook her head and whisper spoke. “Captured for eternity, proof Shane the Ranger, has a soft side.” I didn’t bother to shoot her a look, I just said in a same quiet tone. “Where are we?”

Twilight spoke up from where she was, just tucking one of the cameras back in a bag. “About ten minutes out. Time to wake everypony up.”

I gave a nod and turned my head, just about to kiss Jackie on the nose she muttered, eyes closed still. “Ah am awake...but y’all can kiss me anyways.” so I did. This caused a little paint pony under my arm to groan “ewwww adults kissing” and the pink pony next to him to hoof nudge him. “You kissed me, in front of all of Equestria, even the princesses.”

The reaction was a pink and brown paint pony as he blushed up a storm, an even pinker filly, some laughter from the adults, and one princess of love leaning down and saying in a very soft tone to Pip.

“You were the bravest most charming stallion of the night, never forget how special you made your special somepony feel.”

Pip looked up at the alicorn, then over next to him at Diamond who just answered by tucking her head in and hiding her face, in pips neck.

Arriving back in Ponyville around noon or so, I helped wrangle up all our strays. Filthy took charge of Pip, so a sleepy little pink filly and her special somepony lay across his back as he trotted off. Twilight had promised him a recording of the show, so he could watch what went on. He had said he listened to every moment of it on the radio along with almost half of Ponyville, down at the city hall.

Cort and Golden headed off to get some sleep, Rarity took her sister with her. Rainbow took Scoots with her. So that left one dead to the world asleep apple filly, currently slung across my neck in a ‘firemans’ carry. Her head balanced on my shoulder and I gripped her legs. She was a might heavy but, hey I don’t mind as AJ and I headed off home. The train having left for the crystal empire to return the royal family and their guards.

When we got home, Red was up on his perch. He spread his wings, no bandage! I knew he couldn’t quite fly yet, but he managed to hop/glide over and land on Jackie as she lay on the bed to catch some sleep. I lay down next to her, parking Apple Bloom at the foot of it, and decided more of a nap would be nice.