Chapters This is going through a revise to make it a tighter story to help it fall into my universe used in the Things Are Alive and Hunt and Be Hunted stories.
My name is Octavia and I love music, I even know how to play the Cello and I'm nervous too; this is my first time performing for a crowd. To make things worse it's also a concert for Princess Celestia's birthday and she has yet to show up. I had just started a warm up with a simple song when a tomato had hit me in the face. "Learn to play!"
I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and all I could do was try to blink them away. "I know how" was the only pitiful gasp I was able to voice as I was standing up. When I looked I could see that everypony was looking at me. I continued to bite back the tears to the best of my abilities. I was trying to calmly trot out of the room, but I was only able to make it about halfway before "he" had decided to trip me; he was actually the only pony in the world who I ever knew to bask in somepony's discomfort.
"Oh whoops, sorry." I was unable to hold the tears and lost them right then. I dropped into sobs while he laughed at my discomfort; I was almost shaking with the sorrow that this bullying was causing.
Out of nowhere I heard a voice that was very boyish but still female. "Yo! How 'bout you leave that filly alone?" Who could that be? No one had ever stood up for me before...
I could hear Blueblood flipping his mane like he always did when talking to someone he thought was inferior to him; which I had seen enough of today already. "Who do you think you are, mare?"
I took advantage of the distraction and snuck out at a crawl trying desperately to end the tears; a voice drew my attention back to the scene. A filly that was no older than I, was on her hind legs matching my tormentor's normal height. "Me? I'm Vinyl Scratch, who do you think you are pickin' on a filly?"
Vinyl Scratch? What a strange name, and that hair; such a strange shade of blue. "I Price Blueblood shouldn't have to talk to a lowly commoner." I almost cheered when out of nowhere the filly hit him straight in the jaw. "Well then Prince Blueblood I think you should drop an apology to that filly you just tripped." I was stunned hearing somepony I didn't even know standing up for me. "You dare to harm the royal mane?"
"Yup." I watched as he just started to laugh at her, in that moment a sudden anger gripped my heart. So many times had that been me; either at school or in the park no one cared unless it was to laugh at me. Everypony started to laugh at her joining in on the cruel joke. She refused to back down despite all of the laughter surrounding her. "Do you think this is funny?"
At that question Blueblood swatted her aside. I don't know what I was doing but I galloped in as fast as I could and then tackled him from his chair and bit his ear hard; he let out a whine of pain as I drew blood almost ripping his ear off. "I'm sick and extremely tired of you picking on everypony who isn't of royal blood! I've been her how long?! I-I-I hate you!!!" I went to Vinyl and had started to nudge her with my nose; she wasn't moving.
"Are you okay?" She just wouldn't move, I was trying almost on the edge with worry to make sure she was okay. "Vinyl? That's your name right?" Her hooves twitched as if in answer; it wasn't much but at least she was breathing. "I'm going to get you out of here okay?" I did what I could to pull her out of the room; I had never been the strongest though.
After I got her out of the room I was starting to get worried because she had yet to move since Blueblood had hit her. "Are you hurt ma'am?" I could hear the sounds of hooves clomping on stone floor in the ballroom. At that my instincts had kicked in and then I started to struggle to get her unconscious form on my back so I could carry her out to the courtyard. "Gah... you're heavy" I groaned. Out in the courtyard I could hear the guests of the part starting to search for us. "Where am I?" I let out a sigh of joy when she had started to stir on my back, I sat her down after a bit of trouble.
"The Canterlot Castle's courtyard." I was hearing the sound of hooves coming our way and craned my neck looking around. "Follow me." I told her as I started to trot off as silently as I could. I was heading for the main gate, when I stopped I and felt Vinyl bump into my flank. "Oops sorry" I couldn't help by flush at the contact a little bit.
"Let's get out of here."
I had led Vinyl through the main gate and then down the streets. After a while I felt I we could slow down and not have to worry about Blueblood or any of the other party guest's find us. "We should be fine now."
Now that I had the chance I took a better look at this Vinyl Scratch; her mane looked surprisingly unkempt for someone whom was at a Canterlot Castle; especially Princess Celestia's birthday.
I held my hoof out for an introduction "Hi I'm Octavia, and you are?"
For some reason she was squinting and almost yelling when she spoke. "Yo I'm Vinyl Scratch. Could you please stop moving around so much?"
I was worried and held up two hooves in front of her face to test her vision. "How many hooves am I holding up?"
She was squinting and struggling for an answer while I stood there patently. "Er three no wait four" I got closer to her so that our noses were almost touching.
"Can you see me?" She was squinting before she yelled suddenly "why are you across the street?!"
She sure knew how to yell; I had to cover my ears at the sudden noise out of surprise; it was already to late to really stop the sound from reaching my ears. "I'm right in front of you Vin-." before I could finish she had reached forward with a hoof looking for me.
She had got her hoof in my mouth almost as if she had met to do it "oops sorry" was her response as she pulled her hoof out of my mouth; she was really silent all of a sudden.
"Are you okay Vinyl?" I had to ask, it was odd seeing this filly silent.
She had let out a flustered sigh as she spoke "I can't see a thing." I put my hoof on her back to tried to give her comfort, not sure how I could help her "how long have you been unable to see?"
Vinyl Scratch was a pale yellow filly and had the most beautiful magenta eyes I had ever seen. She was standing in front of me, furrowing her brow and tapping her hoof on the cobblestone walk we were standing on conversing. "Um after waking up, after getting knocked out by that stupid Prince something-or-other." I had let out a soft sigh at that.
"Can I ask why you stood up to him?" She didn't even give it a thought before answering "he was pickin' on a filly."
"Thank you for standing up to him." With those words I started leading her down the streets looking at the different shop signs with a plan in mind to help Vinyl Scratch.
"No prob she looked in need of help." She hasn't figured out that she had helped me yet... "I did, thank you." I didn't want to be rude in letting her know it was me. "What?" I couldn't help but wonder if that hit had also ruined her hearing or something?
I had lead her into a building with glasses everywhere. When I looked around for somepony I saw a kind looking mare who greeted us as we walked up to the counter "how can I help you two young fillies today?"
I had helped Vinyl find a seat before answering; she was feeling around and had caught my flank once looking for a hand hold.
I flushed yet again at this, but eventually I got her to sit down in the chair. "She can't see that well and was wondering if you would be able to help her."
"How bad is that?" her kind voice was helping me think clearly; it was as if I was playing my cello all of a sudden. As if to answer the mare's question Vinyl started reaching for a can with something I couldn't identify.
I grabbed her hooves and looked at her "what are you doing Vinyl?" she was pouting a little bit when she spoke.
"I'm a little thirsty. I thought I would find a cup and then take a drink from it." The mare looked at me and went off into the back not even needing me to answer his question from earlier.
"What would you like to drink Vinyl?" She couldn't see and I was worried she'd hurt herself or brake something.
"I'm fine with water." I found her a cup and then got her some water and I had made sure it was in her hooves before letting her try and sip at it without my aid.
Shortly after the mare came out and was levitating them with her magic. "Let's see if any of these can help you, little one." It was interesting to watch Vinyl try on glasses most of them not helping her much and some looking just plain ridiculous "this is bad, if this next pair doesn't work it could be a while until I would be able to get you a pair that works."
She had gone into the back and then shortly after came out carrying a pair of black glasses with purple lenses; I had to tilt my head to those ones. "Aren't those sunglasses?"
The mare smiled softly "they are but they are the strongest prescription I have in stock" and then when Vinyl had put the glasses on she looked around as if she was taking everything around her in for the first time in her life. "Whoa these are some sick shades." When she saw me, she had half tackled half and half hugged me causing me to flush yet again for the day.
"I know you, you're the filly from the party that Prince fellow was picking on."
She had then gotten off of me and started to walk around amazed by her surroundings; while she was off exploring I went to the mare. "How much is it going to be for those glasses?"
The mare gave a kind smile and took a moment before answering me "Well normally those are 10 bits but how about just 5?" With that I had started to shuffle through my little pouch I kept behind tied my bow tie and felt my voice drop when I finished the count. "Um I only have 3..."
"Octavia!" I had gone stiff hearing that shout; there was only one pony I knew who had that much energy. "Pinkie?" with that one question my cousin suddenly tackled me to the ground with such force that it threw me for a loop. "I've been looking for you all day!" I had looked at her with my eyes wide, because I was still a bit stunned.
Vinyl trotted up to us with her head tilted. "Tavi who 's this?" Pinkie Pie smiled wide at me hearing this question. "You have a nickname?! and a friend?!" I was suddenly spinning around as Pinkie Pie was celebrating.
After she had stopped spinning me I was wobbling trying to keep my balance. If it hadn't been for Vinyl letting me prop myself against her I would have fallen right there. "Um ya" - I felt the urge to ask - "Pinkie do you have two bits with you by chance?"
She shook her head with such energy that a bit fell out of her hair. "I have a bit. Is there something you need?"
The nice mare who was helping me had knelled down in front of my eccentric cousin with a soft smile. "Your sister here is just trying to pay for her friend's new glasses."
When she heard that Vinyl had dropped two of her own bits on the ground into the pile with Pinkie Pie's "They are my glasses after all."
I smiled slightly and then put two of my three bits in the pile. The kind mare gave me a smile using her magic to pick up the bits. "5 bits, the glasses are all yours."
With that we all trotted out of the shop onto the Canterlot streets happily, and then I stopped mid stride something clicking in my mind. I had turned to Pinkie Pie before asking "Pinkie, what are you doing in Canterlot?
She had started to hop around me like she always did around me. "To see you play your Cello silly!"
Her words had hit me with such force that I had fallen onto my rump. "That was today wasn't it?" I had said ruefully and Pinkie Pie had started to climb all over me like she always did, her voice was carefree like always. "Shouldn't you be at the castle by now?"
I tried to avoid the subject." I don't think I'm going to be preforming my Cello today." At this moment she was trying to balance on my back and look at me from over my head "what?! why not?"
I had tried to shake her off of my head but I couldn't get her to leave me be. I had to tell her in the end. "Sigh ... I attacked a prince." With that Pinkie Pie had rolled off of me and was now rolling around on the ground laughing. "Hahaha you hit, hahaha a prince hahaha!"
Vinyl was looking down at Pinkie a look of wonderment on her face. "You have your cutie mark?" I had never thought to see if Vinyl had a cutie mark but when I looked I wasn't surprised when I didn't see one; I don't have mine either.
"She does..."I hated the fact that my crazy cousin already already had hers; all she had to do was throw a party and she had one. Everyone was silent for maybe a second before Pinkie Pie had started to drag me along the ground by my tail.
"We have to get you to the castle! Celestia needs to hear you play!" I had tried to stop her but nothing could ever stop Pinkie Pie when she wanted something done.
"Let me go Pinkie!" I pleaded hoping that she would let me go, when I looked over my shoulder I saw that Vinyl was walking along side of Pinkie Pie.
"You are aware that she hit a Prince right?" Pinkie Pie had given me a sharp tug sending me sprawling into the air with a scream.
Then I landed on my sister's back tangled up in my own mane and tail. "Of course! but is she apologizes then I'm sure that-"
I remarked coldly at that idea "I'm not apologizing to that stuck up pony."
My words had made Pinkie Pie stop and drop me on the ground. She was pinning me there oddly serious all of a sudden. "It was mean Tavi, you have to apologize." At that point Vinyl stood up for me for the second time that day.
"He made her cry, and caused me to need these." With that Pinkie Pie got off of me and started to trot around speaking in a sing song manner.
"We should go and demand an apology then!" I had groaned at the thought and when I tried to go in the opposite direction of Canterlot Castle, Pinkie Pie just continued to pull me along against my protests. "I really don't want to go Pinkie."
She just kept dragging me and Vinyl kept following right beside Pinkie Pie. "I'm sure if we ask him politely he will apologize."
I doubted that, and then we all slowed down as some really loud sound was coming from a building, definitely the most atrocious sound that I had ever heard in my life. "That's a sick sound, we should totally go in there!"
She likes that sound?
We walked in to the performance hall; I was avoiding eye contact with everypony, Vinyl must have been doing the same because when I looked at her she had her head slightly down. "Hello!"
Why can't I just disappear? "You're back." He was there, always there ready to torment.
"Yes" my pitiful reply. A sudden hush filled the room, great I'm going to die.
"Are you here to apologize?" Vinyl snorted at this.
"Are you gonna apologize first?" I felt the "better then thou" hair flip without looking.
"I shouldn't have to ap-" He went silent as if something had just appeared out of thin air.
"What is going on in here?" Princess Celestia! I'm as good as dead.
"These fillies expect me to apologize for nothing." I felt a surge of anger in my body and put my hoof forward with a shout.
"You threw a tomato at my face! and then caused my friend to nearly go blind! You certainly did something!-" I shrunk back surprised at my own out burst. "- err um sorry that was un-ladylike."
"You nearly ripped my ear off!" I felt Vinyl trot past me and when I looked up she was standing on her hind legs to be level with Blueblood's eyes.
"I'm sorry for this Celestia but-" SMACK! "-he caused my friend to cry." He went to strike her but Pinkie stopped him from contacting.
"Royalty shouldn't hurt girls" Celestia trotted over to Blueblood and gave him a stern look.
"You better apologize, for your lack of chivalry." I could barely hear it but he apologized and I felt okay with that and then I eyed my Cello un-touched and then Celestia was looking down at me with a kind smile.
"Will you grace us with your music Octavia?" I was nervous as I went to my Cello.
"O-of course p-p-princess." I got myself comfortable and prepared to preform with supportive words from Vinyl. "You can do it Tavi."
I took a deep breath, then I started to play. It felt as if my body was a part of the music, I slowly built up from a soft melody into a nice solo piece with altering tempos every two measure. It felt great, I had closed my eyes getting into my music gaining speed until reaching the climax where I brought out a long fade into a soft melody again swaying slightly to the music and then slowly brought the music out.
"Woo hoo!" I opened my eyes to see Pinkie cheering while jumping around shortly after Vinyl was joining her, I had started to get used to Vinyl's energy.
"Yay! My cousin did it! She has her cutie mark!" I was stunned for a second before I could look back, and when I did there it was. My cutie mark! "You did it Tavi!"
I could feel a smile spread across my face as I started to jump around with my sister and friend. "I got my cutie mark! Woo hoo!"
I bumped into somepony and turned around to apologize but was stunned when I saw that it was Princess Celestia. "That was a marvelous performance Octavia."
I was stunned and stammering trying to put words in my mouth. "Th-th-thank you pri-princess it was an ho-ho-honor."
She smiled at me patting my head. "It's always a treat when I get to see fillies get their cutie marks first hand."
I was almost beaming with excitement as Celestia started to trot off. "My cousin has her cutie mark!" Pinkie spined me around all of a sudden laughing. "Celestia liked you're performance too!"
After being set down I was wobbly yet again today and Vinyl gave me support so I wouldn't fall, only this time the support was in the form of a giddy hug. "You did great Tavi!" I smiled seeing that the entire crowd were clapping there hooves for my performance.
"Boo! Boo I say!" Well almost everypony, Celestia was suddenly in front of Blueblood scaring him badly. Pinkie, Vinyl and myself fell on the floor in laughter.
"You are a prince and need to show respect to your servants." I started to calm down and gain my composure again, feeling like a silly fillies for laughing and rolling around with my sister and friend like I had.
"What should we do now?" Vinyl had one of her hooves on my shoulder the other one was on my sister's.
"Let's go to that club and drop some beats!" My sister was ecstatic hopping around despite Vinyl's hoof on her back.
"Let's party!" I was basically dragged out of the room and down the streets, I guess the joy was still overflowing from me so I started to skip down the cobblestone path with them cheering.
We sang the whole way to this club of Vinyl's newest obsession in high spirits, this mood lasted for days. I couldn't help but wonder what the two of us would end up doing in the future.
Looking Back on Meeting Vinyl
Well this is where I'm going to say something about my story that I just put up here. It was me bored and trying to write right after my friend had got me hooked on MLP, it was fun to write and I had started to convert it into a comic book recently but that could be upwards to a year before I even have that one started. I'll make sure to get that information of where it can be found once it is up (if it doesn't become a full blown fanmade episode.) Thoughts hmmm I wrote it originally not to be a Pony related story but that changed quickly, well my favorite part of this one was that I actually wrapped it up nicely. I wont share my least liked part of it just because then you could end up judging that despite it still being a nice thing. Well this is the lighthearted not in anyway "bad" story; the other one well that isn't posted quite yet still working on one of the chapters and that one will be one to be watch for but be aware it goes into my normal writing style which can get ghastly but those aren't pony related stories so I haven't gotten that dark, yet.
We didn't really get a choice as Vinyl Scratch dragged us both into the loud and crowded room. "This is awesome!"
She had ran up to the speakers and was in front of them bobbing her head in time with the sounds. A mare was up on this stand by the speakers with headphones on bobbing her head in time with the "music?"
She noticed Vinyl by the speakers and yelled down to her barely audible over the music in this room. "Want to see how this works?!" Vinyl was trying to climb up excited at the idea and Pinkie ran up behind and used her head to push Vinyl up.
I could run right now, not have to worry about going back to Canterlot castle... but something made me want to stay. Maybe it was Vinyl. "Why am I still here?" Vinyl was talking with the mare when I looked in their direction again.
"Do you think you could do it?" Vinyl was nodding her head fast smiling wide, and then the mare dimmed the sound a bit and the everypony in the room looked at him. "How's everypony doing tonight?"
A cheer rose through the crowd. "We're going to give you a little treat, a short set from an up and coming DJ." The crowd cheered even louder at this, Vinyl looked a little nervous but excited at this.
"Introducing DJ Pon-3!" Vinyl moved up to the board and started to work with a strange device that had two record players on it.
"What is she-" Suddenly she started to play some music at first a melody from a song I recognized from Bach and then it started to fuse with some electronic sounds. "That's actually really nice."
She was smiling now just bobbing her head like before as if she knew perfectly what she was doing and the music started to pick up it's beat and everypony in the room was dancing by now, my sister was darting around the "dance floor?" excited.
A sudden light surrounded her and then the music "crashed?" to a stop and the lights went out. A cheer erupted from the crowd, and then when the lights came on Vinyl was jumping up and down extremely happy all of a sudden.
The mare walked back up to the board and smiled taking the mic again. "How was that everypony?" Everypony loved it and were shouting. The mare pointed at Vinyl's flank and she looked back and let out a shout of joy jumping into the crowd.
"I have my cutie mark!" I couldn't help but to feel a sharp needle of envy at hearing this.
"I still don't have mine..." I tried to give her more than a half heated smile when she hop-skipped up to me.
"Tavi I got my cutie mark." She embraced me in a hug which I was only able to return limply, disappointed even more that I still didn't have my cutie mark. "I'm glad" it sounded pitiful.
"Hey guys!" Pinkie appeared right behind us causing us both to scream in surprise.
"That was so awesome DJ Pon-3!" With that Pinkie dragged both of us out of the room and then once outside we were being dragged to Canterlot castle, I could only groan because at this point I accepted my fate to have to put up with Blueblood.