Music We Cherish

Octavia awoke to her classy alarm clock that played her first cello composition. She smiled as she heard a few mistakes, but loved how cute she had been with them. Over time she had gotten better, as well as stronger. In order to pick up her large cello, she had to be strong, and stronger to carry the case. Octavia got up and made her bed, then turned her alarm off.

The gray mare walked over to her bathroom and took a short shower, afterwards she brushed her hair and teeth. She then mane sprayed her mane so it would stay still. She put her collar on, then chose her favorite bow, which was a pink violet one. She trotted down the staircase and into the dining room.

"Good morning mother, father." Octavia smiled at her adoptive parents.

"Nice to see you so happy, Octavia," Her father commented.

"I'm just excited about getting the letter," Octavia shrugged it off.

"Nonsense! You have to admit you are happy! Remember when we first adopted you, and your father held you and you smiled so pleasantly?"

"Yes, mother, I was just happy to see that I was going to an actual home, but I suppose I am happy today." Octavia said between bites of her omelette. She sipped her tea, then got up as she heard the mail mare knock.

Octavia cantered to the door and opened it slowly.

"Hello Octavia! Here's the mail!" The unicorn levitated the letter to her hoof.

"Thank you," Octavia shut the door and ran as elegantly as she could back to the table.

She sorted through the mail and found the letter. She opened it and smiled wide, then calmed down and just smiled a half smile.

"I was accepted." The other ponies in the room cheered for her, including servants and adoptive family.

"Sister, that is just grand! When you come back to visit, you simply must tell me all about it, please!" Regal Rose asked respectively.

"Oh, Rose, of course. I will be sure to take pictures for you and mother, and father, I will send you my grades every time I get an update."

"Dame, could you please pack a bag for Octavia? Or, would you like to pack it yourself?" Sunny Swirls asked politely, staring at her 20 year old daughter.

"Mother, I believe I would like to pack it," she looked to Rose. "alone."

Rose's smile died down, and soon she trotted off into the living room to practice her violin. Sunny smiled to her daughter and levitated a handkerchief to her eye, dabbing away a few tears that threatened to ruin her perfect makeup. Sunny then exited the room and went along with her other daughter to watch her play. Brief Case looked at his adopted daughter and restrained the need to ruffle her hair.

"Octavia, I want you to know we will all miss you so much, and try to call you every week, okay? I love you. Go pack your stuff, hon." Case smiled and hugged her, then trotted over to the living room to watch his little filly play. He turned and looked at Octavia and winked.

Octavia headed up the stairs and into her room. She packed a couple collars and bows, along with some formal attire in case of any unexpected events. She packed her brush and tooth brush and her special necklace. She shed a tear and quickly wiped it away. Octavia was not going to let that ruin her big day. She locked the case and picked it up, along with her cello case. Octavia looked in her bathroom mirror. She locked the door quietly and looked deep into the mirror, as if it was going to tell her the secret to life and happiness.

"Who are you? Where are you? How can I find you?" Octavia asked herself these questions everyday, brooding over it.

She wanted to- no, she needed to know. All she had was a necklace. That's all. Octavia banished the thoughts and tears.

"No! This is my big day! I cannot- no! Will not let that get me down!" Octavia stamped her hoof down on the linoleum in triumph.

The earth mare picked up her cases and walked down the stairs. She trotted into the living room and piped up. "Mother, father, sister, I am ready to leave. I love you all. I will be sure to call when I get the chances."

After hugs, kisses, and a few shed tears, Octavia sat in a long black limo-carriage on her way to Baltimare. She was going all the way from Canterlot to Baltimare. A bit of brooding and looking out at the scenery flashing past her, leaving memories that were forgotten in seconds whirred past her as she thought about college. Soon, they went by a bad part of Hoofington, and saw a pony with saddle bags that seemed like they had an entire collection of disks inside. The pony seemed like she should be white, but was coated with mud and dust.

Octavia wanted to pick her up, but she remembered what her mother warned her about.

"Never talk to strangers or beggars, you never know if they are lying or not, okay?"

"Yes, mama." Octavia had said.

She put her hoof down on the soft carpet and laid down. Just a few miles and I'll be there. Just... a few... miles. Octavia dozed off, but what seemed like a second to her, she awoke from a large lurching made by the carriage. She sat up and brushed her mane instinctively. The butler opened the door and got her things out. As he was about to carry it in, she waved him off.

"I will take it from here, Monsieur." Octavia paid him.

The mare trotted in through the gates, a cello strapped to her back, and a suitcase in her mouth. She usually carried just her cello case on her back, so she was not used to carrying two cases that weighed together about 78 pounds.

"Hey, you need some help? You seem like you're struggling a bit," a sweet, sugar coated voice asked.

Octavia turned to see the same unicorn mare offering her magic. She was filthy and stunk very badly. Octavia could see she had good intentions, though she was not going to let a sweet face get to her.

"Oh, thank you, but I am fine. If I am to carry my cello all day, I must learn to carry more than just a cello case," Octavia assured the mare she would be fine and they waved goodbye, but awkwardly walked the same way.

"You don't happen to be going to Muse University... do you?" The blue maned beauty asked politely for some pony so filthy.

"Oh, yes, don't tell you are too? Music, if you are heading this way, correct? My name is Octavia. Nice to meet you," Octavia offered a hoof to the mare, even though she was unkempt; Octavia felt strange, like she'd known this pony from before.

"Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. Nice to make the acquaintance. Yes, you are in classic, since you use the cello, I'm sure. I'm going into dubstep and electronica. I am a pretty okay DJ, and my stage name is DJ-P0N3, not to brag or anything," Vinyl stated as they shook hooves.

"Oh, really? I would never have guessed. I went with my father sometimes to see you though you-" Octavia stopped before she said something regrettably rude.

"Weren't that dirty? Yah I get that a lot. I just... didn't have a great life, okay?" Vinyl said a bit colder than intended. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to snap. I just don't feel comfortable talking about it to some pony so new to me. Yet it feels like- never mind." Vinyl stopped herself before she said anything weird.

"Like we've met before? I-I felt the same thing. Well, maybe I'll see you sometime switching classes or something," Octavia smiled as they clip-clopped into the main doors.

"My name is Octavia,"

"Hello, Ms. Octavia. Dorm 120," the pony at the desk smiled sweetly.

"Hey, I'm Vinyl Scratch."

"Oh, Octavia! Wait! You two are roommates, why not walk together? I-I mean if you'd like to, to get to know each other." The rather shy mare retracted in shyness.

Vinyl cantered up to Octavia and the pair trotted down the halls. After a bit of traveling throughout the maze of dorms, they found Dorm 120 and entered. It was on the top floor, the 5th, and it was rather large. There were two beds, one blue, one violet, with windows and curtains, along with a large bathroom and kitchen. The had a suitable living room as the entrance, which felt very inviting.

"Oh, cool. I guess I'll take the blue, or do you want blue?"

"No, that's quite alright, I'll take violet."

The two ponies started unpacking in the baby blue room. Octavia and Vinyl agreed to each have half of the rooms, only in the bathroom and bedroom. Vinyl charged a spell and suddenly, a large turntable came to the correct size. Vinyl made sure everything worked and shrunk it back down. She put it in a small bag and then the bag on a shelf above her bed. She had tons of vinyls in her saddlebag, a toothbrush and toothpaste, one blue formal dress that was a little tattered and ripped, and her signature glasses.

"I-I think I understand. It's okay. If you want, we can be friends. And friends help each other. So, would you want to be friends?"

"Y-You don't care that I'm poor? But, you're Octavia. Rich! How could you just do that with a stranger?!"

"Well, I feel a connection. And I want to help, because its not fair that I live in luxury while you get... how should I put it..." The mare trailed off.

"It's okay, I know. While I get crap, it's okay to say it. So, you'd actually help me?"

"How about after you take a bath, we go shopping for a new dress. If you're good, I'll buy you some antique vinyls! I promise!"

"I don't usually take help from new ponies, but it's weird... I feel like I've known you forever. C-Can I hug you... after a shower?"

Taken by surprise, Octavia wavered a bit, then smiled. "Sure, and here, use my shampoo and soap. These are really good for your mane and coat. You'll feel so nice and clean! I promise!"

"Octavia..." Vinyl wiped a few tears away from her muddy coat.

"No, Vinyl don't cry!" Octavia rushed to her new friend's side and sat by her and held her hoof.

"It's just... no pony has ever been as nice to me as you are... and I've only known you for an hour and a half."

"How about you take a bath, and we go shopping? Dresses and vinyls?"

Vinyl smiled a sweet, and unusually clean smile. "Thanks, Tavi."

"Tavi? Don't call me that!" Octavia blushed furiously.

"But you're so cute when you're angry! I love it, Tavi! I'll call ya Tavi from now on!"

Before Octavia could protest the use of the newfound nick name, Vinyl skipped into the bathroom and turned the water on. Tavi sighed and decided to let it go; after all, there was no sense in arguing with the only true friend you've ever made... right?