>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.