Dear Rocky Riff,
We at the Maresquerade Ball Planning Committee wish to inform you that we would be most honored if you would be the ball's official DJ once again.
Your performance at last year's ball was highly regarded by all who attended. Thus, we believe there is nopony better for the job than you, and we hope you shan't decline our offer.
If it helps, we have arranged so that you may bring along any one guest of your choosing to attend the ball with you. Transportation has already been taken care of. Please RSVP with us as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you and your skills at work.
Just like that, Rocky felt as if he could faint from happiness. He couldn't believe his luck! Him being DJ at the Maresquerade Ball the year prior had been a happy accident, he and his co-worker Jazz Hooves had been Pipp's invited guests. Rocky hadn't planned on being a DJ, it was a spur of the moment decision when the pony originally planned for the grand event had hastily called in sick. The pegasus stallion with golden wings wasn't sure what had motivated him to volunteer to fill the role, but he'd been glad that he had done so. He found that being a DJ was something he really liked doing.
If not for the fact that he already had a fine job working at Mane Melody alongside the princess Pipp, herself a huge online celebrity, Rocky believed he might have staked his whole career on being a DJ. Even so, he'd have to be a fool to turn down this most generous offer. Serving in an official role at the Maresquerade Ball would make anypony jealous.
As it so happened, the pegasus stallion with golden wings already had an idea in mind about who he wished to invite to the ball with him. He saw her every day at work, and over the past few months had really gotten to know her even more than he thought he already did. In fact, the two had been a couple for over half a year now. It was none other than his co-worker, the earth pony Jazz Hooves. Even if it was Pipp's idea to open Mane Melody, Rocky knew he and Jazz were the ones who kept it running. Heck, Jazz hadn't missed a day of work since the saloon had opened, whereas Rocky had been out sick during the time of the infamous "Mane Smelody" incident.
Yet Rocky also knew that it had been Jazz who had taken the lead in making their relationship possible. She had been the one to work up the nerve to ask him out and tell her how she felt about him. Had it been up to the pegasus stallion, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to muster up the courage necessary to ask Jazz for a date. The earless earth pony just seemed to be naturally more outgoing compared to him, often taking the initiative on so many things.
Now, Rocky was contemplating something that could change everything. Dating Jazz was one thing. Now, he felt ready to take that next step. He really felt like he was ready to spend the rest of his life with Jazz, being there for her and her being there for him no matter what, on good days and bad days.
Yet whenever the pegasus stallion so much as looked at the earless earth pony mare, he found his stomach filled with butterflies. Why was he still so anxious and unsure around her? Why couldn't he for once take the lead in their relationship?
It was a silly question, Rocky knew why. He and Jazz had a good thing going right now. And here he was, about to upend it. Did Jazz feel the same way about him that he felt about her? Was he rushing things by planning to propose now, rather than wait until say next Wishentine, or even the anniversary of him and Jazz's first date?
"Hey, Rocky," The voice of Jazz called out, momentarily interrupting the pegasus stallion's train of thought. "What have you got there?"
Only now realizing he was still clutching that piece of paper that had been delivered to him, Rocky managed to hastily force. "O-oh, it's... an invitation to the Maresquerade Ball. They want me to be the DJ again. And they said I can bring along any one pony of my choosing."
Jazz smiled and nuzzled up against Rocky's chin. "That sounds amazing, Rocky! I'm so happy for you," And then she sweetly asked. "Were you thinking of taking me? I had a grand time at the ball last year with you."
Rocky swallowed hard. "W-well I... I haven't really decided yet. I just got the invitation today. But... sure... I can take you. I mean... if you really want to go."
The earless earth pony mare sweetly smiled, nuzzling Rocky again. "Of course I want to go. The Maresquerade Ball is such a lovely event. And it's a lot of fun to pretend to be somepony else for one night," With a giggle and a swish of her tail, she trotted away. "I'm looking forward to an incredible evening, Rocky."
With his mind more or less made up for him, the pegasus stallion with glistening golden wings found it a struggle to focus on his usual duties at Mane Melody that day. Try as he might, he kept thinking about the ball and about the fact that his special somepony was likely to be by his side for the whole evening. It all sounded so perfect in his head, there couldn't be a better setting for a proposal. So why was he still feeling so unsure? Why was he so afraid he was going to mess it up somehow?
Pipp, by chance, happened to notice how... distracted (for lack of a better term) Rocky Riff seemed to be that day. So it was that, during a routine workbreak, she decided to pull her fellow pegasus aside for a little talk. "Rocky, you don't seem to be yourself today. You look like your mind is somewhere else entirely. What's going on?" She asked him, sounding much more concerned than upset.
Rocky knew it was useless to try and hide a secret from Pipp. Besides, if he didn't tell her, Jazz probably would. Far better his boss should hear it straight from the horse's mouth. Swallowing hard and trying not to wipe away the beads of nervous sweat trickling down his face, the pegasus pony explained. "Well... I've been invited to the Maresquerade Ball, specifically to be the DJ again."
A smile crept over the popstar princess' face when she heard the news! "Oh, Rocky, congratulations! You were such a splendid DJ last time! I'm sure you'll do even better this time."
Rocky sighed. "Yeah, I'm sure I will. That's not what worries me," He confessed. "You know about Jazz and I, right? How we're a couple? An item? Whatever it is they call two ponies who've been dating?"
The pastal pink pegasus nodded. "How could I not know, Rocky? You and Jazz have been working for me for so long, there's almost nothing about you I don't know," Then it dawned on her what Rocky was trying to tell her. "Wait, you're thinking of proposing to Jazz at the ball? You two haven't been together for even a year yet."
The pegasus stallion hesitantly replied. "I know. That's exactly what worries me. On the one hoof: The setting couldn't be better, everything feels so right. On the other hoof: How do I know I'm not rushing into it? How do I know it's even going to work?"
Pipp silently pondered for a moment or two. Rocky's situation was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. True, she doubted any of her friends would really be better right now, but at the same time she wished she could at least talk to one of them. Heck, even Zipp might have been nice to bounce advice and suggestions off of.
But there was nopony else around. It was up to Pipp to consider what the best course of action should be. So it was that, after thinking it over, she decided. "I'm not sure if I can really help you on this one, Rocky. The best advice I can give is for you to just be you. Jazz loves you for who you are, not for who you might pretend to be on the night of the ball," She put a hoof around him, reassuring him. "Even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll know one way or the other. And no matter what, you'll always have me for support. I hope that helps."
The pegasus pony with glistening golden wings seemed to nod ever so slowly. "I think it does, Pipp. Once I make the proposal, it's out of my control. But if Jazz loves me for who I am," He stood up, a look of fierce and fiery determination reflected in his eyes. "Then I'm confident that she'll say yes. And if not, at least I can say that I tried."
Pipp simply smiled. "Whatever you decide to do, Rocky, I'll do my best to help you out."
Once Rocky made up his mind, everything seemed to fly by as the night of the ball grew closer and closer. Almost before he knew it, it was time for him and Jazz to travel up to Zephyr Heights, fully masked and ready to take part in the festivities as best as Rocky's job would let them.
Just like it always was, the Maresquerade Ball was a grand affair. And as a sign of progress, Sunny and her friends were not the only ones who were bringing along earth ponies and unicorns to take part in the events. Invitations had been thrown open to esteemed ponies from Maretime Bay and Bridlewood, and quite a few familiar faces (to Sunny and her friends anyway) were in attendance as a result.
Rocky Riff, for his part, just concentrated to the best of his ability on playing the tracks required or requested of him. All the while, he occasionally glanced back to Jazz Hooves. It was easy for him to notice that she was having the time of her life.
Suddenly, an awed hush that befell the crowd. Looking around, the pegasus pony and his partner saw that a lone spotlight was shining down on them, making them the center of attention.
Taking hold of her lucky microphone, Pipp cleared her throat and spoke briefly. "Everypony, I'd like to take a moment and turn it over to our rocking DJ of the night: Rocky Riff. He has something very important he'd like to say to somepony who means everything to him."
Jazz seemed to be taken aback by the sudden statement, and even more so when she saw Rocky get down on one knee. "Rocky..." She began.
This was it, the big moment of truth. So the pegasus stallion with golden wings cleared his throat, and pulled out a small box he'd been saving for this special occasion. "Jazz Hooves," He spoke slowly. "There are no words I can think of that would do you justice. I know we've only known each other for a few years, and have been together for less than a year. But in the time I've known you, I've felt something with you that I've never felt with anypony else."
Jazz simply smiled as she opened up the box at Rocky's prompting. And sure enough, a dazzling diamond ring was presented to her. She didn't bother waiting for him to finish, because she all but giddily proclaimed! "Oh Rocky, of course I'll say yes! I'm ready to spend my life with you: Not as your special somepony, but as your wife!"
"Really?! You really mean it?! Just like that?!?" Rocky asked, his heart all a flutter!
The earless earth pony replied by pulling Rocky close, locking eyes with him and leaning in for a kiss. "I do, Rocky. I do. Wherever life takes us, I know we can face it all together!"
A wave of applause washed over the crowd as they took in the scene. Rocky Riff couldn't believe his luck: Everything was working out perfectly. Oh hoofness, if this was a dream he didn't want it to end! Yet he knew deep down that it was indeed real. Just like that, his life was about to change again. And just like when he and Jazz had started dating, it was a change he couldn't be happier about.
Author's Note
There's been a good deal of shipping art involving the two, even before "Tell Your Tale" made them an official couple. And yet they still don't have their own character tag yet, go figure.
