Chapters All We Need to Strive to Be
Take your brushes, young and old, Together, paint it, bright and bold. Turn 'em round quick by the left elbow, Grab a new partner, here we go!
Fiddlesticks sawed a quick solo on her fiddle, before lowering it to sing with the rest of her family and join them in front of the barn for the family picture.
We raised this barn, we raised this barn, Yes, we did. Together we sure raised this barn, Yes, we did.
Being together counts the most, We all came here from coast to coast. All we need to strive to be, Is part of the Apple Family!
Fiddlesticks sat on a bale of hay idly playing her fiddle. Around her the majority of her family was packing, preparing to go back to their homes all across the country. She wasn't thinking of anything in particular, but instead was letting her mind wander. "Wooo-ee! Cousin Fiddlesticks, looky here!" She heard Half Baked Apple shout.
She turned her head to look at her cousin cantering over to her. "Whatcha' got there Half Baked?"
"Look at this fancy pony in the paper, she looks just like you!" He hoofed her a newspaper, and she looked it over. The pony he was talking about was a gray cellist, the caption said her name was Octavia. The article was a review of her last performance.
"Well looky there, she does look like me don't she?" The similarity was uncanny, the only real difference was the colors of the mane and coat. Both of them even had a treble cleft for a cutie mark.
"Somepony looks like Fiddlesicks?"
"I wanna see!" A small crowd of family members gathered around to see the picture in question.
Fiddlesticks jumped on top of a stack of hay bales and held her fiddle vertically in front of her. "Look at me everypony, I'm a big time fancy cellist!" She began playing a mocking rendition of "Oat to Joy", her family loudly laughing at the joke.
"Better wrap it up Miss Cellist," Fiddlesticks's cousin Applejack said. "Aint your train leavin' soon?"
"Shucks, ah nearly forgot." She jumped down off the hay and started putting her fiddle and bow back in it's case. "Thanks fer remindin' me."
"Anytime Fiddlesticks," Applejack said.
Fiddlesticks finished packing away her instrument and slung the case over her back. "I best get goin'. Bye everypony." She waved goodbye and walked off as her family returned her farewell.
Fiddlesticks rose from her seat as the train pulled into Canterlot Central Station. She slung her fiddle case over her back and exited into the crowded station.
"Fiddlesticks! Fiddlesticks over here!" Fiddlesticks turned her head to see a familiar electric blue mane and purple glasses.
"Vinyl! Well shoot, you didn't have ta meet me here." She trotted over to her friend and gave her a hug.
"It's no biggy, I didn't want you to have to walk all the way home by yourself after your trip," Vinyl Scratch said as she returned the hug.
"Well thanks Vinyl, ah always appreciate the company." The two made their way out of the station and headed towards their apartment in midtown Canterlot. As they walked, Fiddlesticks told Vinyl all about the Apple family reunion. They entered their apartment building using the back entrance in the alley that Fiddlesticks always used. The two mares used the stairwell instead of the elevator, trying to avoid as many ponies as possible.
When they finally opened the door to their apartment, Fiddlesticks plopped down on the couch. "Woo-eee! It sure is nice to be home."
"No place like it," Vinyl said as she sat next to her. "So whatcha wanna do for dinner tonight?"
"Ah don't rightly know. I'm still hankering for some more Apple family fritters."
Vinyl gave a chuckle. "Well I'm sure we can find some fritters, but I have a feeling they won't be as good as your family's."
"Course they won't. Nuthin's as good as an Apple family fritter."
Vinyl was giggling at her friend again, when the phone began to ring. "I'll get it." Vinyl stood up and made her way to the phone. "Hello?" She said as she put the receiver to her head. "Yeah one sec'." She lowered the phone. "Octavia?" Fiddlesticks looked over at Vinyl. "It's for you."
Fiddlesticks took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again her entire presence seemed to have changed. She stood with an air of sophistication, and calmly walked over to the phone. Vinyl hoofed it to her, and she cleared her throat before putting the receiver to her ear. "This is Octavia."
"Thank you very much. Goodbye." The yellow mare hung up the phone and brushed her blue mane out of her face.
"Good news Octavia?" Vinyl asked as she stood near by.
"Very good news. The princess is holding a charity event next week, and she just hired my quartet to perform."
"That's great! Congratulations."
"Thank you Vinyl. Our first rehearsal will be tomorrow. Hm, I haven't even touched my cello for a few days because of the reunion. I should practice right away." She looked back at her friend. "Would you mind?"
Vinyl's face dropped. "Aww, but I was hoping to spend some more time with Fiddlesticks."
"Why Vinyl, if I didn't know better I'd say you didn't like spending time with me." The yellow mare put a hoof to her chest, jokingly feigning being offended.
"Of course I like spending time with you Octavia, I just feel like I've been seeing Fiddlesticks less and less lately."
"I know Vinyl, and I apologize. I've just been so busy lately."
"I know, and I'm happy for your success, but I miss her."
The yellow mare walked over to her friend and put a hoof on her shoulder. "How about this Vinyl? Next week, after the charity event, you and Fiddlesticks can spend all weekend together. I promise I won't interfere."
The DJ nodded. "Yeah that sounds nice."
"Good, now if you wouldn't mind, I really should begin practicing."
"Yeah, I got you." Vinyl built up a store of energy in her horn, and unleashed it towards the yellow mare. When the light faded, Vinyl could see her coat had become ashen, and her mane and tail dark gray.
"Well, how do I look Vinyl?" Octavia asked.
"A little odd in Fiddlesticks's clothes, but other than that perfect."
"Oh, of course." Octavia looked at the green shirt and orange kerchief she still wore, and put a hoof on the cowboy hat. "I'll have to change. Thank you Vinyl." She gave her friend a hug.
"Anything for you Octavia, you know that. Don't you need to practice?"
The cellist stepped back from her friend and released the hug. "Yes, of course, I should get right to it. I'll be in my room if you need me." The gray mare turned and trotted to her room, untying the kerchief as she did.
All We Need to Strive to Be
The grey mare burst through the door to her apartment, slamming it behind her. "Vinyl! Vinyl where are ya'!?" She dropped her cello by the door.
She heard the sound of running hooves from Vinyl's bed room as the DJ hurried into the living room? "Octavia? What's wrong? Why are you back so early?" The concern in Vinyl's voice was clear.
"Ah messed up Vinyl, ah've messed it all up!" The mare collapsed onto the couch and covered her face with her hooves.
"Wait a minute, Fiddlesticks? What's going on?" Vinyl sat on the couch by her friend and put a comforting hoof around her.
Fiddlesticks took a minute to calm herself before answering. "Mah cousin Applebloom was a speaker at the event. She was talkin' 'bout a friend of hers when a foal knocked over a giant ice sculptor right towards her."
"Oh Celestia, is she alright?"
Fiddlesticks nodded. "Ah was able to save her, but ah was so worried about mah cousin ah forgot who ah was."
Vinyl's eyes widened as she finally understood what happened. "You mean Applebloom knows?"
"Cousin Applebloom, Cousin Applejack, shoot, the whole ballroom heard me shout that I was Fiddlesticks."
Vinyl let her hoof fall back to her side."That's not good Fiddlesticks."
"You think I don't know that?!" Fiddlesticks shouted.
"Wooh, calm down Fiddlesticks, no need to yell."
Fiddlesticks sniffed and wiped away a single tear. "Ah'm sorry Vinyl, I didn't mean to scream at ya'. I just don't know what to do. After all these year of being careful, now everypony thinks Octavia's some country hick."
"Hold on Fiddlesticks, 'hick' sounds a little harsh, don't say that about yourself."
"Well that's what they think!"
"Fiddlesticks, just breathe for a second. Relax." Fiddlesticks took a deep breath, taking her friends advice. "Now, you said this was a slip up. Right?" Fiddlesticks nodded. "Well it couldn't have lasted long enough for Octavia's reputation to be that hurt. What exactly did you say?"
Fiddlesticks thought for a moment. "Well, Applebloom called me cousin Fiddlesticks, and ah said yeah. Then her and cousin Applejack started asking why ah looked like this, and I just started muttering and ran off."
"OK, see, that's not so bad. If anyone asks, Fiddlesticks is just a family nickname. And they were asking why you looked different because you just got a new manecut."
Fiddlesticks rubbed her eye with her hoof. "Ye-yeah. I suppose that could work. But what about mah voice? Everypony heard mah accent."
"Plenty of ponies' voices change when they're under stress, just say it's a nervous tick."
Fiddlesticks nodded her head. "You're right, that's a great idea." Fiddlesticks threw her forelegs around her friend, and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank ya' Vinyl, ah can always count on you."
Vinyl returned the hug. "Of course you can Fiddlesticks." Vinyl pulled back and looked her friend in the eyes. "Now we just need to figure out what to tell your family."
"Uuugggh," Fiddlesticks groaned as she buried her face in vinyl's chest. "Ah forgot about mah family."
"Well..." Vinyl gave her friend a comforting pat on the back. "Have you considered telling them the truth?"
"What!?" Fiddlesticks shot her head up and looked at the DJ. "Ah can't tell mah family the truth, you know that!"
"Well why not? I mean, I understand lying to those snooty masses, even the other members of the quartet, but you are always telling me stories about how loving and understanding your family is. I'm sure they'd understand."
"Understand what, that ah've been lying to them for years?!"
"Well don't you think you should stop before it goes on any longer?"
"Vinyl I can't just-"
"Yes Fiddlesticks, you can!" Vinyl interrupted as she stood up off the couch. "You made this problem yourself! I've been covering for you this whole time, and I'm sick of lying! It's time for you to face this!"
Fiddlesticks sat staring at Vinyl, stunned by her sudden outburst. "Vinyl...I..." Before Fiddlesticks could think of what to say, a knock came from the door.
Vinyl sighed. "I'll get it..." As the DJ walked over to answer the door, Fiddlesticks lowered her head and thought about what her friend has just said. Fiddlesticks heard the door open, and her friend's voice from behind her. "Uh, I hope you've figured out what you're going to say." Fiddlesticks turned around to look at her friend. "Because it looks like you're out of time to think." Vinyl stepped aside, and Fiddlesticks eyes widened. Standing in her doorway was the last thing Fiddlesticks wanted to see at that moment. Applejack.
"Applejack!" Fiddlesticks shouted as she jumped off of her couch and faced her cousin standing in her doorway. "Wh-what are ya' doing here?"
"Ah followed ya', I want to know what's going on! An' ah won't let ya' run off again," Applejack said as she stepped into the apartment and passed Vinyl, who closed the door behind her.
"But, but what about Applebloom? Shouldn't ya'll be takin' care of her? Fiddlesticks was desperately trying to avoid the conversation until she could figure out what to say.
"Ah asked the princess to watch her. Why were ya' calling yourself Octavia, and why do ya' look like that?"
"Ah, um...well ya' see...
"Fiddlesticks," Vinyl said. Fiddlesticks turned to look at her friend. "It's time to fess up."
Fiddlesticks could feel a cold sweat drip down her forehead. Her eyes dashed around the room in a panic. "But...but..." Fiddlesticks let her head fall as she sighed in defeat. "Vinyl, could ya' let me talk to mah cousin in private?"
"Yeah, of course. I'll leave you to alone." Vinyl began to walk to her room, but Fiddlesticks stopped her with a hoof on her shoulder as she walked past.
"Could ya' change me first?"
"Oh, right." Vinyl gave a quick look at Applejack before building the energy in her horn and releasing it onto Fiddlesticks in a flash of light. When the light died the mare was once again yellow with a blue mane and tail. Vinyl looked back at Applejack, and could easily see the surprise and confusion on her face. "I'll be in my room if you need me."
Once the cousins were alone, Applejack was the first to speak. "What in tarnation is going on Fiddlesticks?"
Fiddlesticks sighed again. "Ya'll know I've always had a love for music, an' after I started playin' mah fiddle I got mah cutie mark. But ah didn't only like the fiddle, ah soon learned that ah loved the cello too, and ah loved to play classical. But ah thought that nopony would want to listen to a country pony play classical so..."
"So ya' pretended to be somepony else," Applejack finished for her cousin.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"So ya' lied to everypony, even your family?"
"Ah...ah thought ya'll would be mad. Ah thought ya'll would think I was ashamed of ya'."
"Well ah wonder why we would think that! You've only been lyin' to us for years!"
"Ah...ah'm sorry..."
"So are you?"
Fiddlesticks looked at her cousin confused. "Am ah what?"
"Are you ashamed of us?"
"No!" Fiddlesticks looked shocked at the very suggestion. "No of course not! The Apples are the best family anypony could ask for, I could never be ashamed of you." Vinyl was right, it's time to tell the truth. "But..."
"But what?"
Fiddlesticks stared at the floor and shuffled her hooves uneasily. "Ah could never be ashamed of ya' Applejack...but Octavia is a little embarrassed..."
"But...ah'm confused, ah thought ya' were Octavia."
"No, not...Not exactly...At first ah was just pretending to be Octavia. Ah changed mah voice, got Vinyl to change how ah look, and pretended to be high class. But after a while things started to...change..."
"Ya' aint makin' a lick a sense Fiddlesticks."
Fiddlesticks continued to try to explain. "For about a year ah was just pretending. Then one day, when I was pretending, ah said something that I didn't remember thinking. Later ah realized that...somepony else thought it. Somepony else in mah own head."
"Ya' were hearing voices?"
"Not just voices. Ah was hearin' Octavia. An' she started talkin' more an' more. She started thinking things ah never would, liking things ah don't, even understanding things ah didn't." Honestly Fiddlesticks, the joke was not that complicated. "I said 'duvet,' not 'the bay'!" "An' eventually, ah wasn't pretending to be her anymore. Ah was just...ah was letting her be herself."
"Ya'll expect mah to believe that somepony else is controlling ya'?" Applejack gave an unsure look at her cousin.
"No. Octavia doesn't control me. I just...I let her..." Fiddlesticks struggled to find the right words to explain. You channel me. "Ah channel her."
"Well, you and 'Octavia' can call this whatever ya'll want, but it's just lying to me. Lying to everypony who loves you!"
"Applejack, ah'm...ah'm sorry..."
"Save it Fiddlesticks, ah don't want to hear it." Applejack stormed out of her cousins apartment, leaving Fiddlesticks alone in her living room. Fiddlesticks couldn't stop thinking of how guilty she felt, as she curled up on her couch and quietly cried herself to sleep.
Author's Note
New chapter!
All We Need to Strive to Be
"Thank you for your business Vinyl, come back soon," the baker said over the counter.
Vinyl smiled back at the baker as she levitated a box of baked goods above her head. "I will Doughy, have a good day." She turned and walked out of the bakery. As she stepped through the door way, she was greeted by a beautiful sunny day, shining down on the busy streets of Canterlot. She looked around at the passing ponies, when a pony sitting at a table outside a near by cafe caught her eye. Is that... "Applejack?" The mare in question turned her head upon hearing her name, and Vinyl walked over to her. "It's Applejack, right?"
Applejack was having a meal with her sister Applebloom, and she stood to meet the approaching mare. "Yeah, you're Fiddlesticks's friend aren't ya'?"
"Yeah, Vinyl Scratch." She looked down at the young filly. "And that'd make you Applebloom."
"That's right, it's nice t-"
"Applebloom," the elder sister interrupted, "why don't ya' go inside and play with that pinball machine?" Applejack took out a few bits and gave them to her sister. "Ah saw you looking at it earlier."
"Alright! It's nice to meet you Miss Scratch!" The little filly took the bits and ran inside the cafe.
The DJ waved a hoof good bye and smiled at the excited foal as she ran off. "Fiddlesticks told me she was a sweet filly."
"Don'tchya mean 'Octavia'?"
Vinyl's face slumped at the tone of Applejack's voice. "Not really, Fiddlesticks is the one who always talks about her family."
"Don't tell me you buy into that horse apples."
Vinyl sighed, and took a seat across from Applejack, setting her box of baked goods on the table. "I know it all sounds crazy Applejack, and believe me it is frustrating to deal with, but...I've been with Fiddlesticks since she created Octavia. Tartarus, the whole thing was my idea."
"Oh it was?" Applejack gave Vinyl a look that could hardly be described as 'friendly'.
"Well yeah, without my magic it wouldn't of really been possible. I didn't mean for it to go this far but...you should have seen how excited she was the first time Applejack." Vinyl looked down and stared into infinity, remembering the experience fondly.
Applejack's expression softened. "What do you mean?"
"It was a local talent show when we were just fillies, she wanted to enter as a cellist, but when she went to sign up she was laughed at her. They said that a country pony like her couldn't play something that sophisticated. That night she was crying on my shoulder, and I was trying to figure out how to cheer her up. That's when I remembered a spell I heard about in school that could let a unicorn change how a pony looks. When I told Fiddlesticks my idea she was so excited that... she just kept..." the DJ's grin grew, apparently unable to put the joy of her friend into words. "She ended up winning the talent show. At first I thought it would be the end of it. But then came another talent show, and another, and then auditions for orchestras. It was such a slow process that by the time I realized how much she was really changing...I didn't know what to say to stop her."
The two sat in silence for a minute until Applejack spoke up. "She...she wasn't too upset after ah left was she?"
"The last I saw her she was asleep on the couch, with tears in her eyes." Vinyl patted the box on the table. "I came out to pick these up for her, I thought they'd cheer her up."
Applejack looked at the box and sniffed the scent radiating from it. "...Apple fritters."
"She would prefer Apple family apple fritters, but I'm hoping these will do."
"Applejack," the two mares turned to see Applebloom walking back to the table. "I ran out of bits, can I have a few more?"
"No Applebloom, ya' need to finish your meal. We have a train to catch in a couple hours."
Vinyl stood up and took the box of fritters back in her aura. "Well I'll leave you two alone, it was nice to meet you both." Vinyl began to walk off, but stopped after a few steps, and turned back to face them. "You know...Octavia has a recital day after tomorrow. If you two can stay in Canterlot a few more days, she would love if you could show up."
Applebloom just looked between her sister and Vinyl, not completely sure what was going on, but Applejack met Vinyl's eyes. "We...ah'll think about it Vinyl, thank you."
With that, Vinyl continued on her way home. She wanted to get the fritters back to her friend while they were still fresh.
All We Need to Strive to Be
"I'm back!" Vinyl announced as she entered her apartment, closing the door behind. She saw her room mate laying on the crouch, who gave only a grunt in response. "I bought some fritters, thought they'd help cheer you up...uh, who's in at the moment?"
The mare on the couched paused before looking down at her yellow coat. "Looks like Fiddlesticks, ah suppose."
"Great, you'll probably appreciate apple fritters more than Octavia would." Vinyl set the box down on the coffee table and sat next to her friend. She opened the box with her magic, and floated a fritter each to Fiddlesticks and herself. "Dig in."
"Thank ya' Vinyl." Fiddlesticks grabbed the treat out of the air and took a bite, but the down trodden look on her face didn't change.
Vinyl frowned at this, and set her fritter down. "Listen Fiddlesticks, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier."
"It's alright Vinyl. Ya'll were right, this whole thing has gotten out of control."
"Well if it makes you feel better, I have another surprise that I think will cheer you up."
Fiddlesticks smiled at the kindness of her friend. "Aww, what else did you do for me Vinyl?"
"I ran into Applejack and Applebloom outside the bakery, I invited them to Octavia's recital."
"WHAT!?"
"Octavia relax, you've played hundreds of shows, this is no different." Vinyl comforted the nervous cellist as the two of them stood back stage at the Canterlot City Music Hall. Around them stage hands were bustling, ensuring everything was ready for the upcoming performance.
"I know, I know," Octavia responded with a slight voice crack. "But what if Applejack and Applebloom don't show up because they hate me? Or what if they do? What if they yell at me again, it could mess up my concentration. Or what if they don't like my cello?"
"Octavia, you have literally played for the most powerful and well known pony ever, and I've never seen you this nervous."
"That's completely different! Celestia isn't my family!"
"I know but...wait, what did you just say?"
Octavia rolled her eyes. "I said Celestia isn't my family. Honestly Vinyl, I am freaking out enough without you not listening to me."
"I was listening, I've just never heard Octavia call them her family."
Octavia stared wide eyed at her friend, not quite sure what to say. "I...uh..."
"Fiddlesticks, over here." The musical duo turned towards the familiar voice. "Uh, ah mean Octavia." Applejack trotted over to the cellist, with Applebloom by her side.
"Hiya cousin, uh, Octavia!" Applebloom shouted, slightly louder than was really appropriate in such a setting.
"Applejack! Applebloom!" Octavia greeted back, with another voice crack. "It's, it's so great that you could come."
"Of course we came Octavia," Applejack began. "Ah may not completely understand this whole thing, but ya'll are family, and we're here to support ya'."
"That's right!"
The cellist was stunned by how forgiving her family was. "I...I..." Tears grew in her eyes as she lunged towards the farm ponies and threw her legs around them. "Thank ya'll. That means so much to me."
"Uh, Octavia ," Vinyl said, looking around to make sure none of the stage hands were paying to close attention. "I'm really glad you're making up, but don't forget where we are."
"Oh!" The cellist shot straight up and took a step back. "Of course, thank you Vinyl." The cellist looked at her two cousins. "You two really seem to have a way of making me drop my guard," she said with a chuckle.
"You're on in five Octavia," a passing stage hand said.
Applejack glanced at the stage hand. "Well it looks like we need to take our seats."
"It appears so. I would love to see you after the show."
"Course Octavia." The farm mare smiled.
"Come on girls, I reserved the three of us seats together." Vinyl said as she began to walk away. "Good luck Octavia." The two farm ponies followed the DJ, shouting back their own wishes of luck.
"Thank you all!" Octavia shouted at her leaving friends, waving goodbye to them. "Thank you for everything..."
"Mares and gentlecolts, Octavia." The theater was filled with soft applause as the announcers voice faded, and Octavia made her way on stage. She breathed deep, clearing her mind of all outside distractions, making herself aware of nothing but her cello.
"WOOOO-HOOO!" Octavia visibly stumbled as her concentration was broken. She looked out into the audience to see Applejack cheering loudly.
"Go Octavia!" Applebloom joined in.
Octavia waved nervously before setting her cello up on center stage. Well I suppose I couldn't expect anything less. The Apples...my family are a lively bunch. Octavia took one last look into the audience, and noticed many patrons glancing at the farm ponies and whispering to each other. Oh no...
Just stay calm Octavia, everything will be fine once you start playing.
The mare nodded in confirmation, not bothering to tell which of her selves was the one nodding. Octavia took another deep breath, and slowly began playing a slow melody with a practiced mastery. Her left forehoof slid up and down the neck of her cello, as her right controlled the bow flowing across the strings. She lost herself in the notes, for a moment she forgot that she even had an audience.
"Yeah! Octavia!" Unfortunately that moment did not last very long. She could barely keep from playing a bad note as her cousin shattered her focus, but she kept playing, determined to remain professional. However, she couldn't help but hear the murmurings going through the audience.
"How uncivilized."
"Must they be so loud?"
Oh no, this can't be good. Octavia kept playing, but the worry on her face was obvious. She noticed a blue mare walking over to her cousins. Please just sit down, just sit down.
"Excuse me, but would you two mind being quite?" the mare said.
"Oh, ah'm sorry," Applejack responded. "I was just trying to cheer on Octavia."
There, she apologized. Everything's alright. Octavia didn't notice her playing was speeding up due to her anxiety.
"This is a classical recital, not some sort of country hoedown," the mare continued. There's no need to continue, please just calm down. "Honestly, what are you even doing here, do you hicks even like classical music."
SCREEEECH! "WHAT!?" Every eye in the theater shot to Octavia as her cello wailed a horrid tone. However Octavia ignored them all, her eyes, aflame with rage, were locked on the mare talking to her cousins. She dropped her cello and bow, and began advancing towards the mare. "What did you say to them?!"
"Octavia, calm down," Vinyl said as she walked towards Octavia. She tried to put a comforting hoof on her friend, but Octavia walked straight passed her.
"Uh, um..." the blue mare stammered, not sure what was going on.
"Really Octavia, it's alright." Applejack tried to calm the cellist down, but was ignored much the same way that Vinyl was.
"What did you call mah cousins?" Octavia stopped mere inches from the blue mare, their faces practically touching.
"You're cousins? These two?"
"That's right." The cellist's voice began to change with those words, sliding away from Octavia, and becoming Fiddlesticks. "Mah cousins!"
"Octavia, you're voice!" Vinyl shouted. The cellist turned to look at the DJ. When she realized what Vinyl said, her face grew surprised for a second, but only for a second.
"Vinyl, change my fur."
"Octavia, are you sure?" The mare only nodded in response. "Alright then...Fiddlesticks." Vinyl charged the spell, and unleashed it once more, engulfing the cellist in a bright light. When the light faded, the entire theater gasped in shock, and the performer slowly began to make her way back to the stage, stopping when she passed Applejack.
"Cousin Applejack, may ah borrow your hat?"
"Uh, sure thing." Applejack hoofed her stetson over, and her cousin put it on. As she continued her way back to the stage she untied her bow tie, and retied it as a kerchief. She climbed back on stage, and picked up her cello and bow.
"Mah name is Fiddlesticks, and if ya'll would care to listen, ah would like to play mah cello for ya'."
All We Need to Strive to Be
The following is a letter written by Fiddlesticks, and published by Equestria Daily two days after her performance.
A letter to all my fans,
Most of you know me by the name Octavia. However, that is not my real name. I regret to inform you that I have been lying to you for my entire career. My real name is Fiddlesticks, and I am a country pony from a family of farmers. I apologize to all of you for lying. I was afraid that a farmer would not be accepted as a classical cellist. However, I have grown tired of lying. My lies have hurt my family, and strained my dearest friendship. I understand if you are upset with me, but I hope that where I come from will not cause you to hold any prejudices about my music. I will continue to play my cello in the same manner that you have been listening to all these years, but I will also be performing with my fiddle. I hope to break preconceptions about what certain kinds of ponies have interest in, and possibly help you discover new interests of your own.
Sincerely, Fiddlesticks
All We Need to Strive to Be
Octavia stood in the Canterlot Castle Ballroom, performing with her quartet on the main stage. She was vaguely aware of the crowd of ponies mingling throughout the ballroom, and the banner above her that read 'HELP THE ORPHANS', but she was mostly absorbed in her music, as was her usual when she played. After the piece drew to a close, she turned to Fredric to await the cue for the next, only to notice somepony talking to the pianist.
"Yes, of course," Fredric said as the other pony finished. Fredric stood and walked to the rest of the quartet. "They will begin the speeches soon, we will resume when they are concluded. For now, we are free to relax and enjoy ourselves."
"Well that's a relief, my lungs need a rest," Beauty Brass said, shifting the sousaphone wrapped around her.
Octavia chuckled as she began to pack her cello back in it's case. "You're the one who chose such a cumbersome instrument Beauty."
"Hey I love my sousaphone, but playing it for to long makes my lungs hurt."
"Well try to recover while we have a break Beauty Brass," Harpo said. "You'll have to play again soon enough." With that, the quartet moved their instruments backstage (with the exception of Fredric's piano,) and joined the other mingling ponies. Octavia made her way to the refreshments table, and helped herself to a cup of punch. She heard a group of young orphan foals giggling and playing at the edge of the room, and she smiled at them.
"Ah've got to say, you're mighty good with that cello of yours," a voice said from behind Octavia.
That voice sounds familiar. Octavia thought as she turned around. "Why thank yo-Applejack!" She shouted in surprise as she saw the pony facing her.
Applejack gave the cellist a curios look. "How'd you know my name?"
"I, uh..." Octavia frantically tried to come up with an excuse. "Wh-why you're the pony who represents the Element of Honesty, you've saved all of Equestria on several occasions. Any civilized pony would know your name." Oh please believe me.
Applejack continued to give her an unsure glare for a moment, before smiling. "Well ah guess that makes sense." Octavia gave an internal sigh of relief. "Ah've heard you play before actually, at the Grand Galloping Gala, and ah saw an article 'bout you in the paper. Your name's Octavia right?"
"Yes, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Applejack." Just stay calm Octavia, she doesn't suspect anything. She offered a hoof for Applejack to shake. Which the farmpony did, with two hooves and rather vigorously, shaking the cellist's mane out of place slightly.
"Well shoot, it's a pleasure to meet you too Miss 'Tavia. Can I call ya' 'Tavia?" Applejack asked.
"Well, um..." Octavia took a moment to fix her mane. "Just 'Tavi will do. That's what my friends call me, I suppose you can too."
"Well thank ya' 'Tavi." On the main stage, Princess Celestia had began to thank everypony for coming, and was discussing the night's guest speakers. "You know, ah've got a cousin that looks just like you."
Octavia gave an uneasy chuckle. "Heheh, is that so?"
"Sure is, Cousin Fiddlesticks."
"If you don't mind my asking Applejack, what are you doing here?" Octavia asked, desperate to change the subject. "This crowd seems a little to high class for your enjoyment...Uh, no offense."
"None taken, you're right. These snooty hoity toity ponies aren't normally mah idea of a good time...Uh, no offense." Octavia shook her head and waved a hoof dismissively, showing that none was taken. "But mah little sister is one of the speakers tonight."
Applebloom? "And now it's time for tonight's first speaker," Princess Celestia announced from the main stage. "Young Applebloom, from Ponyville." The audience applauded as Octavia watched the young yellow filly take her place behind the podium.
"This is her now," Applejack said as she turned to watch her sister.
"Thank ya' Princess Celestia," Applebloom said as the princess left the stage. "Like the princess said, mah name's Applebloom, and I lost both my parents when I was very young. But despite that, I have a great big family, and although I miss mah parents dearly, I've had a great life. That's why ah'm not here to talk about myself. Ah'm here to talk 'bout one of mah best friends back in Ponyville. She's never had any family at all, and it's been really hard on her. But she was to shy to come here herself, so ah'm here for her."
Oh Applebloom, Octavia thought, touched at the filly's gesture for her friend. "She always was such a caring filly." She said under her breath.
"What was that?" Applejack asked?
"Uh...I said she seems like a caring filly, coming here for her friend." Come on Octavia, you can't keep slipping up like that.
"Yep, she's one of the kindest little fillies I know," Applejack said, giving a proud smile to her sister.
"Hey, careful Little Wing!" Octavia and Applejack turned to the group of foals, and noticed a young pegasus flying dangerously close to a large ice sculpture of a mare playing with young foals.
"Quit worrying will ya'? I'm not gonna knock it-" The pegasus was cut off, because while he was looking down at his friends, he accidentally flew directly into the sculpture. The entire hall gasped as it began to wobble back and forth, before finally tipping over, and falling directly towards the main stage.
"NO!" Applejack shouted.
"Applebloom!" Both mares charged full speed towards the stage, as the yellow filly stared at the falling block of ice, to scared to move. As they neared the stage, Applejack bumped into a stallion, causing her to stumble and fall and leaving the grey mare to save Applebloom. She jumped on stage, and tackled the young filly out of harm's way just in time. As the ice collided with the ground and shattered, the grey mare held Applebloom tightly."Applebloom! Applebloom are ya'll ok?" She pulled back from the filly, unaware at at the stares she was receiving from the surrounding crowd.
Applebloom was left dazed from the brush with death, and looked up at the mare. "Huh? Cousin Fiddlesticks? Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me Cousin Apple-" The grey mare froze. Now that Applebloom was safe she remembered where she was, and more importantly, who she was supposed to be. She looked around the room, and finally noticed that everypony was looking at her, including Applejack.
"Fiddlesticks?" Applejack asked.
"I, uh..."
"Why do ya'll look like that Cousin Fiddlesticks?" Applebloom asked.
"Um, ya'll see..."
"What's going on here?" Applejack asked as she took a step forward.
Fiddlesticks froze, she felt exposed in her foreign grey coat. "I...I..." She bolted, wanting to get as far away from the two Apples as she could. She ran back stage, not even slowing as she grabbed her cello and slung it onto her back. She used the rear exit, and bolted out of the castle, and through the streets of Canterlot.
Author's Note
New chapter! Felt like working on this, despite the official status being on hiatus. Don't expect updates of this to come regularly or often, but I may throw out a chapter occasionally.
All We Need to Strive to Be
A mare stood in an infinite darkness, unsure of where she was. Hello? She heard her voice come from no where in particular. Where am I? Is anypony there?
Suddenly a beam of light came down, revealing a pony standing in front of her. The pony had no fur, was pure white, and had no face. No eyes, no mouth, no nostrils, just the general shape of a mare's head. Who...who are you? The mare reached a hoof out to touch the other, only to have her do the same. She realized she wasn't looking at another pony, she was looking into a mirror. Who am I?
"Why, you're me of course." The pony turned around to see a familiar looking gray mare standing behind her.
O-Octavia?
"No, you're me." Another mare, this one with a blue mane, appeared a few feet from Octavia.
Fiddlesticks?
"She abandoned you Fiddlesticks, she wants to be me." Octavia said, turning to Fiddlesticks.
"She can't abandon who she is, Octavia. Nopony can, don't matter what they want." The country mare argued.
W-wait a minute, I thought I was both of you.
"One mare can not be two ponies.
But I can be, I have been for years.
"You know that t'ain't true. Ah was just pretendin' to be her all this time."
"You were, but we both know who has taken control now. Face it Fiddlesticks, I am pretending to be you now."
"Ya'll ain't real Octavia. Ah created you!"
"And as is always inevitable, the student has surpassed the master."
The mare's head began to throb, and she began to rub her temples. Please don't fight... The arguing ponies turned to face the mare.
"Now look what ya'll have done, you've gone and hurt her head."
"We both did Fiddlesticks, with this useless arguing. It doesn't matter what we think."
Fiddlesticks nodded in agreement. "You're right, she's the one who has to choose."
"Indeed." Octavia walked closer to the mare. "So who is it going to be? Who are you going to be?"
I-I don't know. The mare took a step back.
"Well ya'll have t' choose." Fiddlesticks stepped forward beside Octavia.
Please stop... The mare shrunk into herself.
"Choose," the two mares said together.
"Who are you?"
"Are you who you always have been?"
"Or are you who you've always wanted to be?"
I don't know, I don't know! The mare curled up on the floor, and shut her eyes. She tried to escape from her two selves as she heard echoes of "Choose," and "Who are you?" coming from above her.
A mare woke up on her couch, and opened her eyes to see herself in her apartment. She laid there for what seemed like hours, not daring to have even a single thought. She was scared to hear what voice it would be in.