After Vinyl's death, Octavia leaves everything from their life. This includes their month old foal, Quarter Note. 10 years later, after Quarter receives her cutie mark, Octavia returns to try and be their for the filly.

Where exactly did the elements come from? Why did so many things happen 1000 years ago? Why were there so many villains at that time and how is it that the elements just happen to be there?

Why does Trixie travel? Surely, she could have just made it big in one of the theaters. She had the talent for it after all. Was it because she like the outdoor life? No. Did she want to travel? No. It was because she made a promise.