The Best Night Ever

>Your eyes wander over the landscape passing by outside the window.
>You can see Canterlot in the distance, steadily growing closer.
>The train ride there isn't particularly long, but still you're aching to get there; you have great plans for tonight.
>You've worked hard the last few months, saving up for this trip.
>Nobody can say that you havn't earned this.
>Sure, you quite enjoy helping out at Sugarcube Corner, but the pay isn't great and then there's Pinkie Pie...
>She's a great friend and, in small doeses, she's lovely to be around, however when you're working with her several hours each day, she can become quite... Intrusive.
>But all of that is behind you now.
>Now it's time to enjoy yourself.
>Octavia, the most sublime cellist to ever grace Equestira, is hosting a concert tonight in Canterlot and you're going to be there.
>You only heard her play once before, when you accompanied the girls to The Grand Galloping Gala.
>She worked the cello with such skill and fervor, creating divine notes that sent your soul aflutter.
>You had never experienced music like that before.
>When you heard of her upcoming performance in Canterlot, you knew you had to be there.
>And a few months later, here you are; a pocket full of bits and a heart full of excitement.
>Yep, tonight is going to be The Best Night Ever.
>"Ehhm, is it okay if I have a seat in here?"
>You are pulled out of your daydreaming by a mint-green mare standing anxiously at the door to your cabin.
"Yeah, of course." you say with a smile
>Her face lights up as she proceeds to take a seat next to you.
>"Anon, is it?"
"Yeah... I'm sorry, I don't know you, do I?"
>"Oh no, we've never been properly introduced to one another, but you are quite the eye-catcher." she says with a subtle wink
>"Everp0ny in P0nyville knows who you are."
"You don't say?"
"Well, seeing as you know my name already, it'd only be fair for me to know yours, don't you think?"
>She smiles bashfully, extending a hoof at you.
>"Lyra"
>"Lyra Heartstrings"
>You clasp her hoof and gently shake it.
>She gasps at your touch and you could almost swear you see her quiver ever so slightly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Lyra."
>"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." she says with a coy smile
>She sure seems very forward.
>Perhaps this could lead to something?
>"So Anon, what are you going to Canterlot for?"
"Oh, I'm just going to a concert."
"A concert featuring Octavia... Maybe you've heard of her?
>She stares at you with huge eyes.
>"Have I ever?!"
>"I just so happen to have a ticket to her concert as well."
>Her eyes take on a dreamy look.
>"My, my.... Who would have thought somep0ny as exotic as yourself would have such refined taste in music?"
>You chuckle nervously.
"Well maybe we'll see each other tonight then."
>"Oh I'm positive that we will."
>A lewd smile on her lips, she speaks with a soft and sultry voice.
>"And perhaps we could find something... -Fun- to do after the concert as well."
"I like the sound of that, Lyra."
>Looks like tonight might turn out even better than you had expected.
>Best Night Ever, indeed.

>You spend the rest of the train ride making conversation with your new lady friend.
>She asked a lot of questions about your background, and she seemed genuinely interested in everything you had to say.
>She also made a number of lascivious remarks, whenever an opportunity was presented; you're fairly sure you're getting lucky tonight.
>As the two of you got off the train in Canterlot, you decided that you would meet up outside the concert hall tonight, before the show.
>Lyra had some business to take care of before the concert, so for now you part ways.
>Standing in a sea of p0nies in the big city, you smile to yourself.
>You can hardly belive you're actually here.
>Completely giddy, you take in the sights, smells and sounds around you.
>Before the show starts, you have a few hours to enjoy what the city has to offer.
>As if on cue, your stomach moans and rumbles, letting you know what your first stop ought to be.
>You recall Rarity telling you about them most delightful little bistro with outdoor serving, and you guess it's as good as anything.
>Using an overly complex map given to you by Twilight, you manage to navigate the winding city.
>Walking through the streets, the city doesn't cease to amaze you.
>Every building you pass seems to have it's own charm and dash of ingenuity.
>The interior of the city was truly spectacular.

>As you sit down at one of the tables outside the small restaurant, a waiter soon comes trotting over.
>Not caring about the price, you order the biggest salad they have; you've got plenty of bits to spend.
>The bistro was situated in one of the calmer parts of the city, only a humble few ponies are milling about.
>With the sun pleasantly warming, you sigh with relief as the peaceful surroundings grow on you.
>You can understand why Rarity spoke so fondly of this place.
>You need more days like this.
>The peace is suddenly ended by one of the doors across the street flying open with a bang.
>You look over at the commotion, irritated at the disturbance.
>A big, burly earth pony pushes a unicorn mare out the open door.
>The mare, her coat azure and her mane a pristine cyan, drops her baggy wizards hat as she is shoved outside.
>Trixie: "What is the meaning of this?"
>You can easily make out the voices across the otherwise quiet street.
>Trixie: "How dare you treat The Great and Powerful Trixie in such a disrespectful manner?"
>The big earth pony looks unamused.
>"Look lady, I already told you, I'm not constructing another carriage for you on credit."
>"You still havn't paid me back for the last one I built for you."
>Trixie: "But Trixie already told you, our last carriage was--"
>"Yeah, yeah, your last carriage was incinerated by a rampant dragon.... Hah!"
>"Just like your first one was crushed by an enraged Ursa Major, huh?"
>He slowly shakes his head at her.
>"I ain't falling for that again."
>"For all I know, you're selling these carriages off to somep0ny else."
>Trixie: "Surely you cannot think such loathsome things of The Great and Powerful Trixie?"
>The colt frowns at her.
>"Forget it Trixie, you ain't getting a new carriage until you show me the bits."
>With those words the earth pony turns around and heads back into his workshop, slamming the door behind him.
>You watch with round eyes as Trixie starts desperately banging on the door.
>Trixie: "Trixie needs-- I need a carriage to make a living! Please!"
>Trixie: "I'll pay you back double, I swear!"
>Trixie: "Please I... I won't have anywhere to sleep tonight..."
>When the door remains closed, Trixie sighs deeply.
>Dejected and humiliated, she grabs her hat and flees the scene.
>Before long, you are served your salad.
>You fail to enjoy your meal though, you can't stop thinking about that mare, Trixie.
>Her words echo in your mind as you chew your food.
>You didn't think this sort of stuff even happened in Equestria.

>After a day of joyous sightseeing, the time has finally come for you to relish the sweet tunes of Octavia.
>Merrily strolling down the road towards the concert hall, you smile to yourself as you spot Lyra standing outside the entrance.
>Her bright, mint-green coat stands out stark even at a distance.
>It won't be long now.
>Soon you'll reap the fruits of you labor.
>Walking past a dark alleyway, a quiet sobbing makes you stop in your tracks.
>It sounds strangely familiar.
>Peering down the alleyway, you spot -Her- lying on top a pile of newspapers, crying in her solitude.
>Trixie.
>Visions of what transpired earlier in the day flood your mind.
>You feel a pang of sorrow for this young mare.
>You look back towards the concert hall.
>You can still make out Lyra's form, patiently waiting for you.
>Weighting your bag of bits in your hand, you look over at Trixie.
>You contemplate the situation only briefly.
>You smile to yourself.
>You earned these bits.
>You can do with them as you wish.
>And you'll be damned if you're not going to spend them making tonight The Best Night Ever.

>As the first rays of sunlight penetrate the darkness of her makeshift lodging, a gentle hoof to her side pulls Trixie from her sleep.
>Trixie: "Who... What?" she mumbles, still disorientated from sleep
>Creasing her eyes open against the sunlight, she is greeted by the carpenter from yesterday.
>"Morning, Miss Trixie."
>Her face quickly adapts a scowl.
>Trixie: "What do -you- want?" she scoffs at him
>Trixie: "Have you come to wallow in my misery?"
>"Actually, I have something you should see."
>"It's just around the corner."
>Cautious as to his intentions, but intrigued none the less, she crawls out of her newspapper-bed and follows him out of the alley.
>She doesn't believe her eyes.
>Standing on the street before her is a finely crafted carriage, a carriage of her own design.
>She stares at the carpenter pony.
>She wants to ask a million questions, but she's only able to utter one word:
>Trixie: "H-how?"
>"This wierd bloke came around last night, wanting to pay for your carriage."
>"He forked over plenty of bits for it too, I'll tell you."
>"Heck, he even paid extra for me to work throughout the night; he insisted it had to be finished by morning."
>He shakes his head in disbelief.
>"All he had left was just barely enough for a train ticket out of town."
>Tears staining her eyes, Trixie asks with a faltering voice:
>Trixie: "Who was he?"
>The earth pony shrugs.
>"He said he wanted to remain Anonymous."

The end.