Strolling the streets of Canterlot (Closed)

[BeGoneThots]

Stormstride watched as she walked beside her brother. Of all the places she did not want to come, this had to be the top of the list. Canterlot itself, seat of Equestrian power and home to no less than two princesses at any given time. This place was a magnet for all things she disliked. The mare wore her armor, though her helmet hung from a hook on her sash. The heavy clack of her metal clad hooves on the cobblestone street echoed softly as she watched. Her mane glittering in the sun, the silver hair blowing lightly in the breeze as they passed by vendor stalls and shop fronts. They needed a place to park their cart. She was searching for an Inn or a hotel. 

As she was looking, Buck trotted along quite happily as he pulled the cart. His large stature letting him see over the tops of most of the crowd and his cheerful smile offset the rather irritated demeanor of his sister. He greeted every pony he passed with a cheerful tone and a bright look upon his countenance. While he wore no armor, the stallion was wearing saddle bags and the hitch for the large cart. He walked on a powerful set of legs, displaying the fact he was used to manual labor. Though when he spoke it was with a slight accent. 

 

"Sister, smile. We are only here for a few days! There are so many places to see! new foods and music for us to try, and a chance for us to catch up on the news we missed these thirteen years!" He gave a light skip, lifting the front of the cart up an inch as he did. Chuckling he watched her roll her eyes before finally smiling at him. She could never keep a scowl on her face with her brother around. The pair walked until they spotted a hotel. Pulling up front, Buck looked for a place to park their cart while Stormstride walked inside. Buck finally found a spot just across the street. It was an empty lot, with a few carts in it, but it was right beside a school. Buck figured it was for public use, because he did not see a sign stating otherwise. As he moved the cart into position, he paused to look up at the school. IT was really no different than the school he attended when he lived here in Equestria all those years ago. Though it was larger and likely better equipped than his school had been. 
 

Smiling to himself he unhitched form the cart, moved to the back and lowered the gate. Sitting himself on the edge, he pulled a an acoustic guitar from the stack. As he strummed over it, he began to smile brighter. His hooves danced over the strings, coaxing out a rather happy melody as he hummed at first. Then he began to sing, and his deep, soothing voice lifted into the air with a crisp loudness that was audible over the city sounds around him. He could already hear a few ponies talking and looking his direction. Which was fine, he wasn't hurting anything and always loved an audience. 

In the hotel, Stormstride turned an ear to the door as she heard her brother begin playing. Though she was focused on the clerk behind the counter and trying to work out how many days they were going to stay. Stormstride was also inquiring about local places to eat, purchase supplies, and the like. She would need work done on her armor soon, and would need to restock her supplies for caring for her weapons and armor. As the Clerk was trying to think while he registered their room, Stormstride just set the bits on the counter for him to take. She expressed that she needed to run an errand very shortly and would return within an hour to pick up the room keys for herself and her sibling. The clerk nodded and eyed the stack of coins rather happily. Stormstride stepped out and crossed the street to the cart where her brother was playing. She smiled brightly, always loving to hear him play. It was especially so when he sang like that, so full of life and energy. He could coax the sweetest notes from any instrument he picked up and that old guitar was his favorite. She had seen him work it over so well, and his hooves danced over the strings like a ballerina. She could hear other ponies coming to them now and moved to the side of the cart. She tossed out the hat that Buck set out to collect bits. Then she returned to tapping her hooves along with the tune. 

 

 

(OOC: This is the song he is playing. He isn't playing multiple instruments at once, just playing the piano parts on the guitar  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNRVm2tEL3A&t=0s&index=5&list=PLeW50pl1e2-u3aTDaPSrH3tOyB97CivH6  )

[PyroBlaze]

Yoru hummed to herself as she worked on grading some of the latest homework from her classes. She loved teaching, it was always wonderful seeing all those ponies hungry to learn. Her companion was less enthused about this job, but she liked protecting her and the students. 

 

The mare stopped humming eventually, mostly because she heard another song starting up somewhere outside. She blinked a bit as she processed that this unusual, though not unwelcome, occurance was actually occurring. Sure enough, the music kept going, accompanied by a lovely male singing voice. At least she assumed it was male. 

 

Regardless, she soon made her way outside, ending up in the crowd surrounding the performer, smiling as she listened to him play his song. Even In’ei seemed to enjoy this song.

[BeGoneThots]

As Buck played, he smiled at the crowd, taking time to nod to every pony present. Stormstride kept herself to the side, not wanting to ruin his performance by frightening the ponies that were watching. As Buck brought the song to an end, he smiled and sat the guitar on his leg and leaned forward a bit. His horn lit up in a bright glow, pulling a couple more instruments from the cart. As they hovered around him, he pulled his guitar back up to his body and winked at the ponies around him. 

 

A set of bongos from the zebra tribes, an electronic keyboard, and what looked like a flute all hung in the air around him. Hopping off the cart he moved just a few steps away from it, as he levitated the cap back out in front of himself. As his instruments hovered near him, held in his magic, he began again. This time he was playing multiple instruments at once with his magic. His voice was deeper now, slower in song as he played a lovely, slow melody. His eyes closed, allowing him to just play from memory. 
 

As he sang, a few ponies tossed a coin or two into the cap, listening to this love song. When his deep green eyes opened, they were looking at Yoru. It was by pure chance as he had been moving his head slowly. And his eyes only hovered over the mare for a moment, before moving off. The deep voice of the stallion echoed a bit around everyone present, vibrating their chests a little as he produced notes of quality and pitch. 

 

"So take... Take these broken wings...And learn to fly again...Learn to life soooo free. And when we hear!! Hear the voices sing! The book of love will open up... and let us in.. Yeaaa yeaaaa.... So Take... These broken Wiiiiiiiiiiings," his voice pelted out now, reaching a volume that most performers would need a speaker and microphone to achieve. He was swaying as he played, his instruments in tandem with his body as he produced the music and magic. 

Stormstride was just watching him play, sparing a glance now and then to the crowd to ensure everyone was behaving and that no pony would attempt to take either the coins or one of Buck's instruments. Though it was a strange sight to see such a heavily armored mare, she could pass herself off as Buck's bodyguard if any one asked. Besides, the mare was enjoying her brother's playing as much as any pony present. It was amazing just how lovely it could be, with the sounds of the music filling the air as if it were a free concert. 

[PyroBlaze]

Yoru smiled as the first song finished and he brought out more instruments to start in on the next one. It was quite the impressive display, both magically and musically, being able to hold and play all those instruments correctly in his magic while singing. She contributed to the money in the hat as it passed by her, enjoying the show. When his gaze locked on her briefly, she stared back, blushing slightly. They both looked away at the same time, though Yoru’s gaze ended up on the ground somewhere to her right. 

 

By the time he got to the held note in his singing, Yoru had gotten over her little shy spell to watch him again, smiling as she did so. 

[BeGoneThots]

As he played, Buck let the music flow through him and move his body. As he did so, the musician was tapping his hooves in rhythm. His body swayed and his tail flicked about. He was into it in a way no pony would normally be. He was not just a performer, he was living through music. He was barely noticing the others around him until he opened his eyes again. His instruments floated and bobbed around him, staying well clear of the audience. He did not want to accidentally bump anyone with a horn or drum. 

 

As the song slowly drew to its close, he took a moment to catch his breath. He was sweating in the sun, his large body glistening a bit as he flicked his mane back and let it settle behind himself. It was a tangled, unmanageable mess that was only made pleasing to look at by the fact it was silver in color and glittered in the sunlight. He smiled at the crowd around, taking a moment to judge the faces before speaking, "Does anyone have a request? I can plan many songs, and if I don't know it I can certainly find it in my music books very quickly!" 

He was cheerful and bright, his pale green eyes danced with a youthful light that contrasted the mare near him. She was armored and had a look of many years upon her face. Though she was still too young to be his mother, she was obviously related. Her own mane glittered in pale silvers and bright whites. Her mottled grey coat that could be seen outside the dark and non-reflective armor was dirty from travel. She looked tired, but smiling as the stallion played. 

[PyroBlaze]

Yoru smiled at the stallion as he finished his song. He obviously enjoyed his music very much, he seemed quite passionate about it. It was always great to see ponies that were that passionate about what they do, it was heartwarming. When the call for requests came up, she paused for a moment, unsure if she should speak up or not. 

 

“Simple Man?” She suggested eventually, smiling slightly. 

[BeGoneThots]

Buck nodded, taking a seat again. As he let his other instruments float back and settle in the cart, he pulled the guitar right to his body. Tightening the strap, he strummed a few cords, adjusted the turning, and then began to strum again. The stallion was familiar with the song. As he took a moment to take a breath he nodded to the armored mare nearby. The mare put her helmet on and walked away. She was completely gone by the time he began to strum the cords out, his voice still sweet but with such a sad tone now. 

 

Stormstride left her brother to play, heading back toward the hotel to put their things away in the room. As she came back to the front desk to get the keys to the room, she could hear him singing. Buck played slowly, his hoof gently tapping the ground as he sang along. But the tone was so much different than the others songs. It was so sad. "Be a simple...kind of Colt...Be a something, you love and understand! Oh baby be a simple kind of Colt. Oh wont you do this...for me son....if you can..." His eyes were closed as he sang, his voice seeming to reach out further without any magic this time. 

Several ponies in the crowd began to rub their eyes, crying as he sang. They could feel it, the weight and pain in his voice as he sang. The song stirred something in him and they could feel it as he played. His Voice did not shake but as the stallion opened his eyes they could all see the glistening tears as he sang.