If anyone still reads this, hi, I've been dealing with depression lately, and it had completely taken my ability to write or create. Thus, this chapter is gonna be a bit longer to make up for that, so enjoy.

Reluctantly leaving his newfound love behind in the cottage, Markus made his way into the shopping district. He had originally gone to look for cooking supplies and possibly a job because he had gotten a little flabby sitting around Fluttershy's cottage.

Of course, getting a job was more than just a means to help the poor pegasus; now it was in hopes of making a life for the two of them. The places in town didn't immediately catch his eye until Markus remembered that Pinkie Pie ran a bakery at the center of town.

"Well, might as well go see if they need help over at Sugarcube Corner. I'm sure they wouldn't mind some extra muscle hauling in those hefty bags of flour and sugar they go through on a daily basis, especially with Pinkie's incessant party planning. That girl is gonna work herself into an early grave."

Markus rolled his eyes as he thought about Pinkie jumping around all over town like a living pinball of parties.

"I'll never understand how she does it; I would've collapsed from exhaustion after the first day." Markus had just arrived at the sweet-smelling bakery when he saw that there was a sign out front reading "Closed for renovations." He walked in anyway, seeing as he knew Pinkie Pie as well as the cakes due to them giving him shelter from an angry mob. Markus shook off that thought as he tried not to dwell on his past experiences, especially since the ponies' points of view towards him had changed recently. He'd have to ask Celestia how she pulled that off.

Mrs. Cake came down the stairs. "Excuse me, sir, but we're closed at the moment..." She paused, then smiled widely. "Oh! Markus, I didn't even recognize you, dear. What brings you to Sugarcube Corner? Here to see Pinkie? Because she's actually visiting her family at the moment."

"Actually, no, ma'am, I'm here to see if you have a job available. I'm trying to earn my keep, as it were, and I could use the exercise." Mrs. Cake looked surprised for a moment, but eventually got out a response.

"Well, dear, normally I'd be happy to hire someone as strong as you, but we've already got someone working in the back right now, and we can't afford more with the renovations and all. Speaking of, here he comes now." At that moment, out walked the last pony Markus expected to see: Big Mac. Although he was quite disheveled, his nose was broken, he had bruises, including a black eye, and what looked like hoof marks on his hind end, no doubt courtesy of that firecracker of a sister he has. She definitely tanned his hide and then some.

They locked eyes for a moment when Big Mac asked to be excused and promptly left. "Seems he's still in the doghouse about what he did," his sister wasn't specific about how she punished him, but apparently, she's got him working all over town on top of his usual farm work," Mrs. Cake added. "Well, anyway, sorry about your luck, dear, but hey, I heard they're hiring down at the spa, something to do with a masseuse, you know, delicate work, someone like Big Mac couldn't do."

Markus took his leave, and just as he left the shop, he saw Bigmac walking towards him with his head hung low, preparing himself for round two. Markus wasn't afraid to defend himself this time, but what happened next surprised him. "I'm terribly sorry, Markus. I acted like a fool. If I'd have known the truth, I wouldn't have acted the way I did. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Taken aback by this and the fact that Big Mac was on his knees, Markus didn't know how to respond at first. "While I appreciate your apology, I'm afraid I can't forgive you." Markus removed his shirt, revealing that the hoof marks Big Mac had left were still there. "You see, I still haven't healed from our last encounter, and this is after a healing session with the princess that ultimately left her completely worn out."

Markus put his shirt back on and continued. "I know you're sorry, and I appreciate you practically begging for my forgiveness, but it hasn't been long enough for me to have forgotten or forgiven what happened. Your kind gesture today may have just sped up that process, at least a little. I will speak with your sister because I feel like you have learned your lesson, but just know, Big Mac, I didn't fight you back then because I didn't want to prove your point about me being a monster. But if this were to happen again, I wouldn't hesitate to defend myself, and I think you'd find me quite capable."

Big Mac got up, looked at Markus in the eye, and simply nodded his head to show he understood. Leaving the bakery behind, Markus walked into the Ponyville Day Spa, a place he hadn't visited before, mainly because spas weren't really his thing, though Rarity had tried many times to persuade him to go.

Lotus walked up to Markus with a beaming smile. "Oh, hello. You must be Markus. Miss Rarity has told us all about you. What can we do for you today? Face mask, mani pedi, a massage perhaps, or maybe..." Lotus sensually wrapped her tail around his leg while rubbing her face across Markus's thigh, incredibly close to his crotch. "Something a little more... intimate."

Markus went red in the face; he couldn't believe how forward the hostess was being. As he was about to say something, Lotus's sister Aloe spoke up: "Lotus! What did I tell you about coming to work during your heat cycle? Go home and cool off!" Lotus yelled back something that sounded like German or at least Ponyville's version of the language and stormed out of the spa.

"Hello, Markus. I'm terribly sorry about my sister. She's going through her heat cycle right now and is quite amorous with the customers. I try to keep her away when she's like this, but I can only do so much."

figuring he can just ask Twilight about what heat cycles are later, Markus simply gets to the point. "Well, actually, Aloe, I heard that you're looking for a new masseuse. Now, I might not have experience, but my hands allow me to get more precise with delicate things. The fingers can relieve stress in a way that hooves simply wouldn't be able to."

Aloe looked surprised at first, but then intrigued, and finally saddened. "Well, Markus, I would hire you on the spot just for that, but unfortunately, we can't afford a new hire at the moment. We still have to get the pipes fixed in the steam room from when they burst last week. Luckily, no one was hurt, but unfortunately, it's going to cost me a year's profit to fix the damage—100,000 bits. Money is just too tight right now. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

Markus shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. I can understand. There's always some other time. I'll keep looking around town to find a job. I'm sure I'll find something."

A chime could be heard over the loud speaker. "Oh, that's my queue. I have to go now, Markus. I have a very important appointment with one of our regulars. Good luck on finding a job!"

Aloe walked away before Markus could respond, so he just turned around and left. Markus went from place to place, but either they didn't have availability or they weren't jobs Markus was suited for. All around town, he walked until he got to a music store that sold instruments with a sign that said, "Help wanted. Need someone with a strong back."

Markus walked into the store, and there was a gray pony with black hair, mulberry-colored eyes, and an octave music note for a cutie mark. "Excuse me, miss. My name is Markus, and I'm here about the job opening." Getting up from her desk and doing what one could only assume to be the pony version of a curtsy, the distinguished-sounding mare began to speak with an almost British accent that was quite inviting. "Salutations, I am Octavia Melody; however, you may address me as Octavia. I have some rather heavy instruments here, such as cellos, pianos, and harps, some of which I can't lift by myself, much less move around. I could use a set of strong arms such as yours. When can you start?"

A beaming smile came onto Markus's face. "I can start today if you like." Octavia giggled, "Eager, I like that. Well, in that case, can you please move my cello upstairs to the music room? I'd like to get some practice in for my performance next week."

"Oh, you play?" asked Markus as he picked up the instrument. "Yeah, but nothing big. I do concerts with the Ponyville Orchestra, as well as little shows I do on stage. Only the super-sophisticated crowd even listens to the type of music I play. Classical just isn't popular anymore, I'm afraid. That's why I keep this place going. People come in and buy instruments, as well as come to have their old ones fixed or re-tuned."

"Well, I guess we have something in common; we both play instruments. You play the cello, and I play the piano." Octavia looked shocked. "You can play the piano? But it's one of the most difficult instruments to learn, at least for ponies."

"Yeah, well, it was one of the only things my mother taught me before her unfortunate passing." Markus tightened his fist; he didn't like discussing his past, even if it was a pleasant memory. He'd much rather forget the world he came from.

Octavia, noticing the tension, quickly changed the subject: "Could you play a piece for me from your world? You've got me so curious now about your world's music."

Markus gave a small smile as he unclenched his fist. "I would love to, but I don't have the sheet music with me. I keep it in my bag at home. I've been out of practice for about 2 years now. Before I came here, I was even going to provide the musical accompaniment to one of my favorite plays called 'The Phantom of the Opera'."

Octavia lit up at the mention of the play. "Oh, that sounds so intriguing! Do you think we'd be able to see the play in Equestria? I'd love to play my cello for something that's literally out of this world." Markus suddenly remembered something as his smile beamed even bigger. "I'd almost forgotten I have a copy of the script signed by the original author amongst my music sheets. I was going to start rehearsal just a week after I got back from my stargazing trip, but since I ended up here, I almost completely forgot about it."

"Well, do you think you could put it together? Please, Markus. It sounds like the opportunity I've been waiting my whole life for. A live performance in front of what I'm sure would be the biggest crowd Equestria has seen for such an event in a century!" Markus looked back at Octavia with enthusiasm. "Of course, I just have to clear it with Princess celestia. im sure she could get us the stage in Manehatten that rarity is always talking about."

Octavia's eyes went wide with shock. "Wait, you mean the world-famous Thoroughbredway!? That's literally the hardest stage to book! But I suppose with a once-in-a-lifetime performance such as that, you might just get it, especially with the princess's support." Markus nodded in agreement before saying, "Well, it's settled then I'll talk to Celestia about getting the venue, and in the meantime, I'm gonna need you to help pick out the actors and actresses, with the exception of the lead. I have somepony special in mind to play her. As for the Phantom, that will be yours truly, as I can also play the organ."

"I suppose, since it was my idea, that I can help with that. I will also speak with the Manhattan Orchestra and see if they can attend. The leader of the band owes me a favor after I fixed half of their instruments before a big concert. It took me a whole night to do it, but I didn't charge him. I just told him he could pay me back later with a favor."

As the night came to a close, Markus finished up his work, helping Octavia with the heavy instruments, and headed home happy about not only finally landing a job in Ponyville but also getting to perform in his favorite play. His life seemed to be on the upswing for once, and as he headed home, he did so with a bounce in his step that would make Pinkiepie envious.