Why is simple past used here?

Question

This is so awesome. The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year. I can see it now. Everyone would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash! I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut. Then, I would mesmerize 'em with my Fantastic Filly Flash. And for my grand finale, the Buccaneer Blaze! The ponies would go wild!

Could I get you to tell me the reason why the red verb is simple past? The rest of all the verbs is modified with would, showing they are a hypothetical narrative. So I assume that it should've been written as "Their eyes would rivet on..." Thanks in advance!

The sentences are quoted from http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/The_Ticket_Master

The scene starts from 03:35 of http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17t2lu_my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-episode-3-the-ticket-master_fun

GPY · Accepted Answer

"riveted" is passive/adjectival. It implies "Their eyes would be riveted on ..."

CalifJim · Answer

PonyFanEveryone would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash! I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut.

This segment of the dialog is not transcribed correctly. It should be

Everyone would be watching the sky, their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts.
But then — in would fly Rainbow Dash! I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut.

So "riveted" is not the simple past. It is a past participle within a participle clause (a non-finite clause). It acts like an adverb of manner. It describes how everyone would be watching the sky. Some grammarians call this "an absolute construction".
_________

Sometimes these clauses can be introduced by "with", and that's true of this one.

Everyone would be watching the sky with their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts.

CJ

Why is simple past used here?

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