"Are you sure you can't come Vinyl?" asked Octavia. "Sorry Octy, I can't, Neon Lights and I have to work on this big hook we got," responded Vinyl.
"Oh... Okay..."
"Maybe next time Octy."
"It's just that, your never there to support me... There never is anyone other than you who would do it..."
"Octy-"
Octavia closed the door. Vinyl looked down and shook her head. She grabbed her phone and proceeded to call Neon Lights. "Hey are you coming?" she asked. "Yeah, I'll be there in a little," responded Neon Lights.
"Hurry up. This is gonna be awesome!"
"Yeah I know right! Imagine us, we're gonna get famous!"
"Darn straight we are!"
Octavia had arrived at the theater. There had already been a line forming. Ponies from all over had come to watch. Octavia nervously gulped. She walked by the crowd and entered through the back door. She exhaled and continued to walk. She looked around looking for the right room. "Octavia... Octavia..." she muttered. That was when she ran into a grey unicorn. She fell over. "Oh! I am quite sorry miss," said the unicorn. She helped her up. "It's quite alright," she replied and quickly walked passed him. She had then found her room.
Her room had been cleaned and prepared for her. She saw her cello in the corner. She walked to it preparing to tune it. As she finished tuning, a mare walked in. "Your up in 5 minutes Octavia," she said. "Okay," said Octavia.
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Five minutes had passed. She stood and waited holding her cello. Her nerves were already shaken away. There was a clap from the audience. Then a lady stepped from around the curtain and said, "Octavia, your up." She nodded and proceeded to stand in front of the curtains. She exhaled as the curtain rose. There were many eyes in the audience. But a pair she didn't see was Vinyl. A bit saddened, she still played through.
An applaud happened. Octavia bowed and left the stage. She went back to her room and put her cello down. Just as she was about to leave, someone called her name. "Octavia?" She turned around to see her agent standing. "What is it?" asked Octavia.
"I need you to watch and stay for the interval."
"Ugh. Why?"
"Some special people want to meet the musicians. They say they have offers if you stay."
"But I don't want to."
"But this is big Octavia! Just stay. The interval won't take too long. Just wait in the audience and watch the performances."
"Fine."
Octavia walked through the isles looking for an empty chair. Once she found one, she sat down. She watched each performance as they passed by. Though quite bored, she still had to wait. That was when one performer came up. He was a male grayish unicorn who held a Violin. He stood up. He played a soothing rhythm. There was a beautiful. There was a beautiful piano background that suited his Violin. That was it. There was a choir of claps. The Gray Unicorn walked off the stage. Octavia watched him as he did. She wanted to meet him. That was when she though it was good she had stayed.
There were still a few more performances before the interval. Octavia waited through them. That was when it was time. She got up and went to the large conference room. Most of the performers were there. Some ponies from the audience were there. She walked around looking for him. She was greeted while walking around. Then she spotted him. He was standing next to a small group of ponies. She joined the group. "Greetings," she said. The pony turned to look at her. The others nodded and walked away. "Hello," he said.
"I saw your performance. It was phenomenal."
"Thank you."
"Where did you learn to play?"
"I learned to play on my own. That was when I found my cutie mark. My name is Nylon Strings by the way."
"Octavia."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Your Cello performance was also magnificent."
"Thanks. You know, I never had someone who actually said this to me."
"Really? No friends or anyone in the audience?"
"Well... There's one person... But she never comes... How about you?"
"I prefer to not have anyone in the audience."
"Why?"
"It's just the way I am. But I had always wanted a partner. Someone to perform with, you know?"
"I know what you mean. I do too. Or at least someone to be there."
"It would be a great idea to work together."
"I know, but I have an agent..."
"I am my own agent. I manage my own business at the same time practicing."
"Isn't that tough?"
"Not so much. It's easy once you get used to it. We could work together. I mean like give one concert a shot, and... See if it goes well."
"I don't know..."
As their conversation grew, Octavia's agent walked up to her. She said, "Octavia, there are some folks who would love to meet you."
Octavia rolled her eyes. "Do I have to?"
"Yes! They are quite important people! We could get even more bigger than we are!"
"But I don't-"
"Think about me, I mean you: your name in shining lights."
"But-"
"All the glamour, fame, fortune!"
"I quit."
"What? You can't do that!"
"Yes I can. I made up my mind. I want to work with someone who actually does care."
"But I do care-"
"No you don't. You just want to become famous. I for one do this for the enjoyment."
"But-"
"Come now Nylon, we have work to do."
Nylon raised an eyebrow. "Oh, um... Okay?"
Octavia's agent cut in. "You're going with him? But where is his agent? He doesn't look organized at all!"
Octavia ignored him and pushed Nylon out with her. "Wait!" yelled Octavia's agent. Octavia ignored her and left. When they had came out, it had already been night. "So um, Octavia. When do we start?" asked Nylon.
"Next week if that is fine with you. I need to get things fixed and change things. For now, just wait. I'll call you when I am set. What's your phone number?" asked Octavia.
"It's 876-490-2371."
"I'll call you when I'm ready."
Nylon nodded and headed to his carriage to take him back home. Octavia had held in her excitement. She finally has someone that she knows, well will get know, be there to see her perform. She walked home.
She opened the door to see Vinyl sitting with Neon Lights. "Hey Octy! I hope you not mad at me-"
"It's fine, Vinyl," said Octavia. "You don't need to worry anymore."
"Wait why?"
"I have a new how'll be there! Now you don't have to come!"
"Don't have to come?"
"Yes! You can now work with Neon Lights. Aren't you happy?"
"Well, yeah... But I mean, I still want to come and support you..."
"You're going to come now? That's great!"
"Well I mean, yeah. I can come next time but..."
"But?"
"But do you even know this pony?"
"No, but I can get to know him."
"He's a stallion?"
"Yes."
"Alright then... Neon and I will be down here."
"Okay. I'm going to get some rest. I am exhausted. Good night Vinyl."
"Goodnight Octy..."
Vinyl looked at Neon who shrugged and continued working. Octavia walked upstairs to her room, cleaned herself up, and went to sleep. Vinyl thought about this pony. She started thinking about what would happen between the two. They could become great friends. Or worse, fall head over hooves for each other. She forced the idea out of her mind and continued with her work.
A week had passed. Octavia had already called Nylon Strings to tell him they can begin practicing. "Alright, so where do we meet?" asked Octavia. "I have a practice room at my place. But I don't live in Ponyville," replied Nylon.
"Alright, but where do you live?"
"I live in a small town close by. It's called Stallton."
"If its close by, then yeah."
"Alright. I'll come pick you up. Where in Ponyville?"
"I'll be waiting in front of the Mayor's building."
"Alright. I'll be there in about thirty minutes."
"Okay."
Octavia hung up the phone. She went to her room to prepare yourself. She put on her collar and a small tie. She walked downstairs and was about to open the door. "Where're you goin' Octy?" asked Vinyl Scratch. She turned around. "Hmm?" she responded. "I'm going to practice with Nylon Strings."
"Nylon Strings?"
"He's the pony I talked about last night."
"Him? Why don't you practice here?"
"Well, we are partners. So we do have to practice together. Besides, we could get ourselves into a concert pretty soon if we're fast enough."
"Why partner with someone when you have me?"
"Well... You aren't ever there. You're always hanging out with Neon Lights or out of the house when I need you."
"Yeah, but things'll be different now..."
"It's okay Vinyl. Well, I have to go. I'll see you later."
Octavia closed the door. Vinyl was a bit irritated. She couldn't just let her best friend walk out like that. She had to do something. But she needed time to think. She sighed and went back to the living room.
Octavia sat waiting near the Mayor's office building. That was when a small carriage rolled in. Nylon came out. "Wait here Maxwell," said Nylon. He looked around and didn't seem to see her. Octavia got up and walked over to the carriage. "Nylon," she called out. He turned to see her. "Oh, there you are," said Nylon. "Octavia, was it?"
"Mhm. So where's Stallton?"
"Just up the road, it'll take a bit."
They both got in the carriage. It moved forward and headed into the distance. "Okay. I have to ask this," said Nylon. "Hmm?" responded Octavia.
"Why, in the name of Celestia, did you tell me to 'work with you'? I mean, I don't even know you. We only met during the interval."
"I just dislike my agent. Besides, isn't it fun to work with others?"
"True. But like I said, I don't really even know you."
"Well, we'll get to know each other right?"
"I guess."
They had remained quiet until they arrived at Nylon's house. It was two stories and was very large. They entered in it. Octavia looked around to discover a very large living room. There were two doors. One lead to what looked like a kitchen and another one that lead to a large room filled with a few intruments. "This is my practice room," said Nylon pointing at the room. "Get settled in there. I need to grab a few things upstairs." Octavia nodded and walked over to the room. Nylon walked up the stairs. He came back down holding his violin. Octavia had already been sitting in the room. That was when she realized she didn't have her cello. "Nylon, I need to go back home. I forgot my Cello." "No need," said Nylon Strings. He walked over to a closet, and with his horn, he pulled out a cello. It was a bit worn, but Octavia could deal with it. Both of them sat down on chairs that Nylon lifted with his horn.
"So, what should we do?" asked Octavia. "Well, I have some sheet music we could use," said Nylon.
"May we look over them?"
"Sure."
Nylon dashed out of the room and ran up the stairs. He ran back down carrying some sheets of music. The two of them looked over them. Eventually both of them had came to an agreement. They played for a few hours. That was when the took a break. "I honestly didn't think working with someone would actually be fun," said Nylon. "Oh? Why is that?" asked Octavia.
"I had always been working alone. I admit that it was quite stressful at times. Organizing when or what concert I should have. Things like that make me wish I had someone to talk to. Or at least come to my concerts."
"Mhm."
"How about you Octavia. Do you have anyone to talk to? Or come to your concerts?"
Octavia looked down. "Yes... Well no."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll, I live with a friend, but she doesn't really have time to go to my concerts. I sometimes go to hers but she doesn't have time to go to mine."
"What does she play?"
"She's a DJ."
"I see."
"Sometimes I see her working with her friend Neon Lights. That sometimes made me wish for a partner."
"Yeah."
"Well, I guess I do have one."
"Yeah. But I still don't really know you."
"We'll get to know each other over time. I just really didn't like my agent. Besides, you were lonely too right?"
"Yeah, but I mean isn't it kind of weird just quitting and working with someone you barely met with on that same day?"
"I guess."
"Anyways, when shall we put our concert day on Octavia?"
"Are there any open performances in two weeks?"
"I'll have to check."
"Sure. Well, I'll be heading home now. I still need to see Vinyl."
"Vinyl?"
"Yes. My housemate."
"Oh okay. I'll drop you off."
Both of them got in the carriage. Maxwell had been napping since they went in. They woke him up and brought Octavia home. Once they had arrived at Octavia and Vinyl's house, he helped her out. "Are we going to meet tomorrow?" asked Octavia. "Sure," said Lance. "I could use the practice."
"Alright. If you could pick me up again..."
"Okay. I'll meet you here at around four o'clock."
Octavia nodded and continued to the house. As she unlocked the door, she saw Vinyl leaning against a wall. "So, how was you're day?" asked Vinyl. "It was fine. Nylon is a great person to work with," replied Octavia.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Is he really great?"
"Of course! He knows his instrument, he helps. He does all sorts of things."
"Oh really?"
"Vinyl is there something wrong?"
"Pfft. No," snapped Vinyl.
"Vinyl, I know you. What's wrong?"
"I just don't feel comfortable with you hanging around with him."
"Why?"
"I dunno. I thought I was your partner."
"Well, you don't even play the type of instruments I do. Besides, you have Neon Lights to work with."
"I know..."
"You need to lighten up Vinyl," said Octavia as she walked up the stairs. Vinyl sighed and shook her head.
Octavia walked into her dark room. She turned on the lights and prepared herself for bed. As she lay in bed, she began to contemplate on what happened today. Had she made the right choice of joining a nearly complete stranger she just met at a concert? She had also thought of Vinyl's behavior. But she couldn't put her hoof on it. She closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.
