The Sorrow series

CHAPTER 10 Love comes with music

The day had finally arrived—judgment day. It was either Anon's band or the other groups. One of them would walk away with the prize money. As Anon woke up, he found himself on the right side of the bed, but it felt warmer than usual. Slowly shifting, he looked down to see a beautiful sight—his mare, Twilight. She was cooing in her slumber, hugging the human's hand close to her chest fluff. A smile cracked across his face as he nuzzled his mate's mane.

Twilight had been spending more nights at the human's place lately. Anon didn't mind, but he often reminded her about her responsibilities with Spike the dragon and Owlowiscious the owl.

Anon shifted his hand slightly, causing the mare to groan softly before murmuring, "No... keep him... warm..." and then snoring again. Anon snorted softly before adjusting his hand once more. Suddenly, he gasped when the mare started sucking on his thumb. He lay there, feeling a mixture of confusion and a slight sense of arousal from the unexpected action. When she finished, he felt a bit awkward as he finally freed his hand.

The action stirred the mare from her slumber, and she yawned lightly before offering a sweet smile. "Morning, love," she said, nuzzling his nose. She then furrowed her brow in confusion when she noticed the expression on the human's face. "What's wrong?" she asked, her gaze shifting to his hand. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, and when she did, she gasped loudly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Anon couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, reaching over to ruffle his lover's mane. Twilight snorted indignantly and then huffed, looking away with a playful pout.

"I told you I don’t like that," she said, blowing a bit of mane off her face. Anon smirked and nuzzled her head again. “I know, but you’re so adorable when you pout,” he cooed. He was slowly about to get up but froze in place when he spotted an issue down his lower half.

“Oh… uh… I can explain,” he muttered before looking over to his mate. He stopped mid-pace as his mare eyed him with half-lidded eyes before slowly reaching down below. “The town is still waking up…” she trailed off, blushing heavily as the man shivered. Anon sheepishly smiled and quickly pulled Twilight into a kiss. She muffled a moan from the stunt before pulling the man back to the covers.

Anon and Twilight walked towards Golden Oaks with satisfied expressions. Anon had Lady Terra on his back, remembering that Picks wanted to do one more practice before the show. He opened the door, letting his mare enter. "Here you go, Sparks," he said before quickly hugging her.
"Gotta head to the guitar shop. Picks wants to do one more practice before tonight," Anon said. Twilight nodded and kissed the man's cheek before trotting back into the treehouse. Anon quickly made his way down the path, feeling ever so happy. The ponies all greeted the human as he passed by. He saw Applejack and Mac working on their stand. Without hesitation, Anon grabbed a bucket and placed it alongside the others, getting the two's attention.

"Oh, howdy, Anon!" Applejack greeted with a smile. Anon bumped his hand with Mac's hoof before smiling at the farm mare. "Hey, Aj. I hope you're ready for the show tonight!" Anon said, placing another bucket down. Applejack nodded, her grin growing wider. "Sure can't wait. Can't wait to see how many ponies will be there!" She said, now standing behind the shop.

Anon grinned, the excitement of the upcoming event palpable in the air. "Yeah, it's gonna be a blast. I can feel it," he replied, glancing around at the bustling activity. The town was alive with preparations, ponies scurrying about, setting up stalls and decorations, their energy infectious. Macintosh gave a nod of agreement, his usually stoic expression softening just a touch. "Eeyup," was all he said, but the twinkle in his eye spoke volumes.

"Well, I gotta go, see you at the show?" Anon said, looking to Applejack and Mac for confirmation. Applejack nodded in response, her grin growing wider. "Sure thing, Anon. Can't wait to see you up there!" she said cheerfully, giving him a playful nudge.

"See ya then!" Anon waved before turning to continue his journey to the band's meetup spot. Along the way, he was greeted by a certain sky blue Pegasus.

“Hey Anon! What are you up to?” Rainbow said, bumping her hoof with the man. Anon nodded to his guitar and smiled brightly. “Nothing much, just making my way to meet up with the band. What about you?” he asked, curious about Rainbow's plans.

“Oh, nothing much,” Rainbow replied, glancing at Anon's guitar. “Boss has been putting pegasi on special duty for the show tonight, wanting it to be 'special' and all that sappy stuff.” She gestured towards some weather ponies flying by before flapping high into the air. “Sorry to cut it short, but I gotta go. See you at the show, Anon!”

Anon chuckled, shaking his head as he watched Rainbow dash off. Turning his gaze, he spotted Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie chatting nearby. When they noticed him, both mares greeted him warmly, their smiles adding to his growing excitement for the upcoming event.
"Hiya Nonny! Hope you’re ready for the show tonight, we’re going to destroy you both!” Pinkie exclaimed with her trademark enthusiasm, punctuated by a loud giggle. Fluttershy let out a small yelp and instinctively hid behind her mane, but her whispered words betrayed her excitement: "But also can’t wait for the fun too." Anon, ever the picture of calm, knelt down with a smile for the two mares.

"Agreed, the fun is one thing I’m looking forward too," he replied warmly, prompting a smile from Fluttershy, who no longer felt the need to hide. Pinkie, true to form, hopped around Anon in a whirlwind of energy before abruptly gasping and producing her pet alligator from seemingly thin air.

"Ooh! We can have Gummy be the judge for the contest!” Pinkie exclaimed, shaking with excitement. Anon cleared his throat before gently reminding her, “Ms. Pie, the only judge will be the mayor.” Pinkie groaned in disappointment, placing Gummy on her back, where the little alligator promptly nipped at her mane. Anon stood up again, waving farewell to the mares. “See you at the show!”

As Anon continued along the path, the guitar shop came into view not too far ahead. He spotted Granite and GreenBay talking at the front, and they stopped and grinned as soon as they saw him approaching.

"Anon! Wassup!" Bay greeted, fist-bumping the man as he approached. Anon nodded in response before glancing at Granite and then entering the shop. "Where are Picks and Octavia?" he inquired, noticing their absence. Granite and GreenBay exchanged frowns. "They've been gone for hours! Picks went to talk to the mayor about something, and Tavi's with Rarity discussing our outfits," Granite explained, sitting down with a sigh. GreenBay hovered in the air with crossed hooves, wearing a pout. "I thought we were here to practice," he grumbled. Anon smiled and removed Lady Terra from his back, displaying the guitar. "We could play something while we wait," he suggested. GreenBay gasped, his expression brightening. Then, his face fell. "Oh yeah... I had to drop my drum set off at the show," he admitted, prompting gasps from both Anon and Granite.

"Oh no, well... so much for practicing indeed," Anon remarked as they all turned around to see Picks trotting in with a happy expression. "Well, the talk with the mayor went well!" he announced before his expression turned quizzical as he noticed something odd. After explaining the situation, the group decided to check on Octavia at Rarity’s shop to see if their suits were ready for the show. Fortunately, they were indeed ready, so after paying their tab for the clothing, the group made their way to the show at the town hall.

Once there, Anon spotted his boss, Mayor Mare, trotting around with a happy grin. Quickly making a move, Anon jogged over and waved. "Hey boss, sorry for not letting you know on what—" he was cut short by a hoof held up, and his boss kept her grin. "Not at all, dear. You’ve been helping a lot these last few years now, and seeing you more with the community is good enough for me," she said before spotting his band behind him.

"I'd say that your band is ready?" she asked. Anon looked back and saw them all nod at the same time. Looking back, he grinned and nodded too. "You bet. Gotta get dressed first and find our drummer's stuff," he said before bidding farewell to the mayor. The group made their way to the stalls and quickly got their gear on. Granite and Octavia were in the mares' room while the three males were in the other.

Picks grunted a bit as he adjusted his suit and tie. He wore a simple black tuxedo with his sleeves rolled up and a black fedora atop his horn. GreenBay also sported a tuxedo, but his had a green stripe on the sleeves. He opted not to wear a hat, instead styling his hair neatly. Anon's attire was particularly unique. Rarity had tailored clothes for him before, but she seemed to relish the challenge of men's suits. He, too, wore a black tuxedo, with one sleeve rolled up and a white stripe on the other. He sported a fedora as well, and instead of a tie, he wore a simple white bow tie. As the stallions emerged from their dressing rooms, they gasped in awe at the sight of the mares.

Octavia was dressed in a stylish grey suit, complete with a matching grey fedora adorned with a pin of her cutie mark. Granite, on the other hand, wore a dark grey dress that elegantly covered her hind legs, with white socks adorning her front legs. Picks was left awestruck, his jaw dropping as if he had witnessed something even more beautiful than before. He trotted up to Granite, blushing slightly.

“Dear... you look…” he began, but Granite cut him off with a playful smile. “Don’t get me started, love. Wait until after the show, okay?” she said, planting a kiss on Picks' head. They both turned their attention to Anon, who was adjusting his rolled-up sleeve. Catching a glimpse of his question mark scar, Anon smiled.

“Are you guys ready?” he asked, looking over at the group. “You bet, mate!” Picks exclaimed before they walked to the building and entered the back to get to their equipment. The group chatted as they waited for the announcement to begin. Anon sat a bit back, eyeing his guitar, which sat still on his lap. A bit of reflection caught his eye.

"Hey, mate," Reed said, startling Anon and nearly causing him to drop his instrument. Anon looked up to see the other human. "Reed! How the hell are you?" Anon exclaimed, getting up and putting his guitar aside before going in for a hug. Reed laughed and hugged him tightly as they shared a moment before breaking the embrace.

"It's good to see you too, buddy! I finished up with the weather staff and wanted to bring my wife to the show. She was interested to hear your band," Reed explained, putting his hands in his pockets.

"How did you know?" Anon asked, rubbing the back of his head out of habit. Reed smirked and turned his back against the human. "Well, I heard from some ponies that a human and ponies were playing music in Ponyville a while ago," he said, making Anon smile. The two laughed before Picks trotted over to them.

"Oh, hello! You must be Reed. Anon has told me a lot about you, Mr. Trails," Picks said, shaking Reed's hand with his hoof. Reed smiled brightly at the unicorn. "Certainly! And please, call me Reed," he said before GreenBay and Octavia trotted in too.

"There's starting the announcement," GreenBay said before they both went back out. Picks nodded and turned to leave before Reed stopped him and looked at both of them. "Oi, I was wondering, Anon, you're gonna be my best man, but I was wondering if your band can play for the after-party?" Reed asked, smiling. Soon, a loud gasp was made, and Granite barged in with a huge grin. "YES, WE WILL COME!" she exclaimed, grabbing Picks by the neck and dashing to the door. He nodded and adjusted his glasses before he disappeared. Anon laughed with Reed as they shared one last hug before Reed left the backroom, and Anon rejoined the rest of his band.

"Thank you all for coming here on Hearts and Hooves Day, everypony! I promise you that this will be the greatest night of our town!" Mayor Mare said, hearing the crowd cheer loudly. Anon stood close with his band and spotted his mate Twilight and her friends not too far on the stage.

They were all dressed up too, and it made the human blush at the beauty of her dress. Twilight saw him and blushed too but was then cut short when the mayor shouted out the elements out loud. Soon she called out all the other bands' names and then pointed a hoof at Anon with a big grin on her face. "And my employee, you know him as the town's worker of Ponyville. He is our town's human, Anonymous, and his band, Afternoon Daydreams!" Anon flushed a bit as the town all cheered his name, and he also saw Reed hopping up with his wife on his back as they shouted out, "Anon, we love you!"
Mayor Mare then calmed the crowd down as she explained the rules about it being a friendly competition and that each band had one song to play. Luckily for his group, they were well-prepared for this. They then got seated and waited for their turn to play. Anon felt lucky that he would be able to hear his mare sing before him.

An hour later, the other bands had played their songs, some simple tunes they knew while others had more custom-made ones. Now, it was Twilight and her friends' turn to play a song. Anon rested a hand on his chin and stared dreamily at his lover as she began to sing softly. He seemed lost for words as he intently recognized the song.

Perfect

[Twilight]

I found a love, for me
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a colt, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the somepony waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my hooves
Barehoof on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it
Darling, you look perfect tonight

Anon listened closely, noticing that Twilight had indeed taken her time to adjust the lyrics and make them more suitable for the pony audience. But what caught his attention the most was the fact that Twilight was looking right at him with a big grin on her muzzle before she continued singing.

[Twilight]

Well, I found a man, stronger than anyone I know
he shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share his home
I found a lover, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own

We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my colt, I'll be your mare
I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my hooves
Barehoof on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that suit, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this
Darling, you look perfect tonight

Anon was now in tears as he listened more to his mate pouring her love out to him. He had never known anyone would feel this way about him, but here was this mare showing all the care for him. He wiped the tears away before Twilight began one more time.

[Twilight]

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my hooves
Barehoof on the grass
Listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And he looks perfect

I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight

Anon stood up, clapping loudly and cheering along with the rest of the crowd. He had to admit, they did really well. But he pushed those thoughts aside as his mare flew over to him and hugged him close. He rubbed her back as they hugged tightly, the crowd cooing at the couple. Even Reed was crying with Vapor as they continued to clap. But once they broke the hug, they both whispered "I love you" and kissed, not caring if they were being watched.

The Mayor trotted up and cleared her throat. "My, my, what a beautiful song. Nicely done, Elements of Harmony. I can't wait to see who will be the winner. But why don't we get our last band ready?" She nodded over to Anon and his band, and they got up and made their way to their setup. Anon looked over at Picks and Granite, nodding with each other. Then he glanced at GreenBay and Octavia, exchanging nods with them as well. Finally, they cleared their throats before Anon chuckled loudly.

Classic

[Anon]

Hey! Where's the drums?
Woo, oh-oh-oh

Ooh, girl, you're shining like a 5th Avenue diamond
And they don't make you like they used to, you're never going out of style
Ooh, pretty baby, this world might have gone crazy
The way you saved me, who could blame me when I just wanna make you smile?

I wanna thrill you like Michael
I wanna kiss you like Prince, like Hathaway
Write a song for you like this

[Anon and Picks]

You' re over my head, I'm out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
One of a kind, living in a world gone plastic
Baby, you're so classic(yeah, yeah; gone plastic)
Baby, you're so classic (yeah, yeah)
Baby, you
Baby, you're so classic

[Anon]

Four dozen roses
Anything for you to notice
All the way to serenade you
Doing in Sinatra style

I'ma pick you up in a Cadillac
Like a gentleman, bringin' glamour back
Keep it real to real in the way I feel
I could walk you down the aisle

The crowd of ponies cheered loudly as the rock music filled the air. Anon couldn't help but sport a sly grin as he glanced over at his mare. Twilight was blushing, clearly enjoying the performance, while Rainbow Dash teased her, poking her elbow as they joked around. Anon took a deep breath before launching into the next verse, his voice carrying over the excited crowd.

[Anon]

I wanna thrill you like Michael
I want to kiss you like Prince
Let's get it on like Marvin Gaye, like Hathaway
Write a song for you like this

[Anon and Picks]

You' re over my head, I'm out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
It's like a rewind, everything is so throwback-ish
I kinda like it, like it

Out of my league, old school chic
Like a moviestar from a silver screen
You're one of a kind, living in a world gone plastic
Baby, you're so classic (yeah, yeah)
Baby, you're so classic (so classic; yeah, yeah)
Baby, you're so classic

Anon held his instrument close as Picks trotted up, taking over the chorus with gusto. Granite beamed proudly as her coltfriend belted out the lyrics, his voice blending seamlessly with the music.

[Picks]

Baby you're classy, and, baby, you're sick
I never met a girl like you ever 'til we met
A star in the 40s, centerfold in the 50s'
Got met trippin' out like the 60s, hippies

Queen of the discotheque
A 70s dream and a 80s best
Hepburn, Beyoncé, Marilyn, Massey
Girl, you're timeless
Just so classic!

Anon and Picks raised their instruments high, standing back to back as they sang, their voices intertwining in harmony, filling the air with their music.

[Anon and Picks]

You' re over my head, I'm out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
It's like a rewind, everything is so throwback-ish
I kinda like it, like it

Out of my league, old school chic
Like a moviestar from a silver screen
You're one of a kind, living in a world gone plastic
Baby, you're so classic (whoa, oh)
Baby, you're so classic (yeah, yeah)
Baby, you're so classic ooh

As the song came to an end, the crowd erupted into cheers, with even Rainbow Dash flying high and cheering enthusiastically. However, she blushed when she caught Anon's gaze, quickly dashing back to her seat. Meanwhile, Mayor Mare made her way to the stage, gesturing towards the band. Anon and his bandmates took a bow, basking in the applause, before returning to their seats.

Twilight couldn't contain her excitement, hopping up and down before wrapping Anon in a tight hug. "That was awesome, Anon!" she exclaimed, planting a kiss on his lips. Anon chuckled, returning the sentiment. "Thanks, Sparks," he said warmly. They both turned their attention to the mayor as she explained the voting process, instructing them to return in an hour when the votes would be tallied.

As they waited, many of the other bands approached Anon and his band, offering compliments and praise for their performance. Anon and his band graciously accepted the compliments, returning them in kind to the other musicians. Twilight and her friends also received their fair share of compliments, showcasing the camaraderie among the competing bands.

Finally, the mayor returned with the votes, and the crowd gathered eagerly around her, anticipation filling the air. Anon's heart raced as he awaited the results, knowing that it would be a close competition between his band and Twilight's.

The tension in the room was palpable as Mayor Mare dramatically announced the winner of the competition. Rainbow Dash leaned forward eagerly, her eyes fixed on the mayor as she prepared to reveal the results. The anticipation hung thick in the air, with everypony holding their breath in anticipation of the outcome. Finally, with a flourish, the mayor opened the envelope, and the sound of a drumroll filled the room, heightening the suspense to its peak.

Anon's heart swelled with pride as Mayor Mare declared "Afternoon Daydreams!" the winner of the competition. Cheers erupted from the crowd as Picks and Granite celebrated their victory, their faces beaming with joy. Anon couldn't contain his excitement as he joined in the jubilant cheers, his eyes shining with happiness. He felt a rush of gratitude towards his bandmates and the ponies who had supported them.

Twilight's words of encouragement filled him with determination as they made their way to the stage to accept their prize. Anon beamed at the cheering crowd, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. Mayor Mare's words of praise only added to the elation he felt, and he couldn't help but grin as she handed him the bag of bits.

As they waved to the cheering crowd, Anon couldn't shake the feeling of gratitude and joy that filled his heart. This victory was not just theirs alone—it was a testament to the power of friendship and the magic of music that had brought them together. “Another song!” the crowd cheered

Anon's smile widened at the eager request for another song. With renewed energy and enthusiasm, he nodded to his bandmates, who were already poised with their instruments. Twilight's encouraging gaze spurred him on as he lifted Lady Terra, ready to rock the stage once more. "Alright, Ponyville! Let's keep the energy going!" Anon announced to the crowd, his voice filled with excitement. With a swift strum of his guitar, the band launched into their next song, their music filling the air with electrifying energy.

As they played, Anon couldn't help but feel grateful for the camaraderie and talent of his bandmates. Each note they played was a testament to their friendship and shared passion for music. The crowd danced and cheered along, their spirits lifted by the infectious rhythm of the music.

By the time they finished their set, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the town square. Anon felt a sense of fulfillment wash over him as he looked out at the smiling faces of the ponies who had gathered to enjoy their music. With their victory secured and another memorable performance under their belts, Anon knew that this day would be one to remember for years to come.