Of Cellos, Bubbles, and Moonbeams

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Chapter 1

It was the dead of night in Ponyville Park as a lone figure walked down one of the many pathways that cut through the grassy field. The ethereal light of the full moon broke through the light cloud cover, washing everything beneath it in a silver glow. With a mane black as charcoal and a coat of ash, the pony bore a treble cleft upon her flank and wore a pink bow tie with a white collar about her neck.

She adjusted the strap holding the large stringed instrument across her back as she stopped beside one of the many wooden benches the park offered. She decided this was as good a place as any. Sitting on her haunches, she lifted the strap over her head and set her instrument case down in front of her. She deftly undid the latches and lifted the case's lid.

The cello within was of masterful make. The polished wood shone brightly in the light of the moon, and the stars reflected on its surface seemed as much a piece of it as the neck or the bridge. The pony removed the bow that lay beside it and a rosin block from one of the case's side compartments. She held the bow lightly in her fetlock and slid the rosin along its length with slow graceful movements, showing all the care of a mother nursing her child.

Once she was satisfied with the bow's condition, she replaced the rosin and turned her attention to the cello itself. She lifted it gently from its case, as careful as if it were made of glass. After attaching the end pin, she stood, raising herself onto her hind legs, one fore-hoof holding the neck of the instrument and the other holding the bow.

She didn't begin playing it, however. Instead, she closed her eyes, holding the bow mere inches above the strings. She remained frozen like that, unmoving, nose towards the wind, as if listening to something, some sound only she could hear. A minute passed. Then another.

Suddenly, when it seemed as though she had turned to stone, a gust of wind raced through the air, fanning her mane behind her. She played a single note then, long and sorrowful. She slid her bow across the string slowly, drawing it out for as long as possible, long after the wind had died.

She got into the melody then, playing the following note quickly before drawing out the next, every sound sung out into the night a breath, held and released as naturally as the musician's own. The song was happy and sad and beautiful as life itself, but most of all it was her. It was her life the strings sung of, just as it was her life that caused the strings to sing. She was not performing for adoration, or the sound of stomping hooves, or to receive a paycheck. She played only for herself, to hear her own story and appreciate it for the masterpiece that it was. This moment was hers, and hers alone...

Until the sound of sniffling beside her shattered that moment into a million tiny pieces. She whirled in surprise, the last note she had played dying in the air as the strings hummed to a stop. A bluish-grey and blonde-maned mare sat on the path opposite the way she had came, wiping her eyes dry with a fore-hoof. The cellist could just barely discern her wings by the weak light of the moon.

"Th-that... w-was the most... beautiful *hic* thing... I've ever... h-heard," the pegasus managed to say through broken sobs.

She probably should have felt honored to have moved this pony to tears, but in that moment the only thing she could think to do was berate her for intruding upon her intimate moment. But then she remembered she was playing in a public park, so she instead chose to say something slightly less hostile.

"Why are you walking around here so late at night?"

"I always go through the park on my way home from work," she said with a small smile, finally managing to reign in her tears. The cellist saw the other pony's eyes for the first time then. She was surprised to see them list in opposite directions. She found herself staring, despite her better judgment.

"I'm Ditzy, by the way. Ditzy Doo." If Ditzy noticed her stare (which it was entirely possible that she did not since neither eye seemed to focus on her at any one time), she did not mention it nor seem to care. "Sooooo... what's your name?"

"Oh... Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Octavia," she said quickly, feeling rather self conscience by that point.

"Oh wow, that's a pretty name," Ditzy said enthusiastically. "And what was the name of the song you were playing? I don't think I've ever heard it before."

"That... it doesn't have a name." Octavia put her bow back in her case and began taking off the cello's end pin.

"Really? Don't you think something that pretty should have a name?"

Octavia gently laid the cello inside the case. Sadness shadowed her features as she looked at moon's reflection on its polished surface before gently closing the case's lid.

"I don't think something that pretty needs a name," she replied.

Ditzy Doo was quiet then as she mulled over her words. Octavia snapped the case's clasps shut and slung the strap over her head as she stood. "Goodnight, Ditzy Doo," she said before turning and walking down the path the way she had came. She was slightly annoyed to hear Ditzy's hoof-steps behind her moments later as she ran to catch up, falling instep beside her. She turned her head to raise a quizzical eyebrow at the mare, but Ditzy was looking at the path at her hooves, nose scrunched up in thought.

"You know, the moon is really pretty," Ditzy said suddenly. Octavia almost laughed at the randomness of the observation.

"It is," she said.

"But we still call it the moon."

Octavia smiled slightly. "We do."

"Then why--"

"But do we have to call it the moon?" Octavia interrupted. "Would it be any less pretty if we called it Rose, or Bob, or if we didn't give it a name at all?"

Ditzy looked up at the celestial body in question. "I guess not..."

They continued to walk in silence for a while. Octavia wondered why the pegasus didn't simply fly home. She decided to ask her as much when she worked up the courage.

"Say, Ditzy..."

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you just fly home?" She realized how harsh it sounded after saying it aloud and elaborated. "I mean, not that I don't enjoy your company or anything, but you don't have to walk with me for my sake."

"Oh, uh... Well, you see..." Ditzy rubbed a hoof through her mane self consciously. "Ponies, uh, don't really like to spend time with me," she explained. Octavia immediately felt sorry for her. Ditzy was able to read the pity in her eyes easily enough. "I don't blame them though," she added hastily. "I'm not really good on my hooves... or in the air... kind of a klutz, you know..."

"I... I see... You know, I'm the same way. No pony likes to spend much time with me, either," she admitted.

"What?!" Ditzy exclaimed. "But your so talented! I've never heard any pony play music like you do!"

"Yes, well... that seems to be my only talent. Once I put my cello down, I'm... I don't know... exposed. I mess up, I panic, I can't stop worrying about what other ponies--"

"About what other ponies are thinking about you." Ditzy finished her sentence for her, knowing all too well the feeling she was describing.

Octavia nodded, somewhat mystified by Ditzy's understanding. "Yes, exactly."

They lapsed into silence once more, though Octavia noticed that it was much more comfortable than their previous silence. She wondered just what separated a comfortable silence from an uncomfortable one. Perhaps it was a certain level of understanding between them, where words were no longer needed.

"Hey, Octavia..."

Octavia was surprised when Ditzy spoke. Perhaps the silence had only been comfortable for her.

"Yeah, Ditzy?"

"Why were you playing out here in the park? By yourself?" Octavia looked to her side to see Ditzy's eyes completely focused on her, the curiosity in them evident. She honestly wanted to lie and say there was no reason for it, but something about those eyes compelled her to be truthful. Even though the truth made her feel quite silly.

"Well, it's a tradition of mine."

"What sort of tradition?"

"The kind that my parents gave me." It was obvious that Ditzy's curiosity was only peaked by this information, so Octavia continued. "My dad was an eccentric pony. During Summer, when it was warm out, he would take my mom out to have romantic picnics under the moon. After I was born, they would take me along with them. The first time I ever performed for them was at one of those picnics. After... after they passed, I kept taking my cello out each summer to perform under the moon. Sometimes I wonder if my parents can hear it, if they know how much better I've gotten."

She finished her explanation to the sound of Ditzy sniffling, once more wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Th-that's such a beautiful story."

"You cry really easy," Octavia said with a chuckle.

"Then stop giving me beautiful things to cry about," Ditzy retorted, laughing as well.

They finally emerged from the park and onto a dimly-lit street. Octavia was surprised to find herself disappointed that their moonlit walk through the park was at an end.

"Well, my house is this way," Ditzy said, pointing to the left.

"And my house is this way," Octavia said, pointing to the right.

They hesitated there, both wanting to stay and both realizing there was no real reason to.

"Well, see ya around, I guess?" Ditzy said hopefully.

"Definitely," she replied with a determined nod.

"Cool. Goodnight, then."

"Yeah, goodnight."

As Octavia made her way down the street and around the corner, she could feel this happy feeling bubbling up in her chest. Had she just made a friend? A real friend? The thought made her smile so wide it hurt.

Suddenly, all of those happy feelings were flushed right out of her as she realized the only thing she knew was her name. How were they ever going to meet again? By chance? How long would that take? Octavia spun on her hooves and ran back towards the park. maybe she could still catch her in time...

She reached the park entrance, but Ditzy was no where to be found. Of course, she was a pegasus. She could have flown off at any time and been to her house in seconds. Octavia kicked the dirt and mentally berated herself for being such a--

"Hi Octavia!"

Octavia released a high-pitched scream as Ditzy's voice came from right behind her. She turned to see the wall-eyed pegasus hovering there, trying to contain her mirth at her reaction.

"W-what the hay, Ditzy! That's not funny," Octavia chided, her face growing red from embarrassment rather than anger.

"Oops hahaha. I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just flew back here to find you because I realized I only know your name."

"Yes, well, I ran back here for the same reason." Octavia was having trouble getting the blood to leave her cheeks.

"How about we meet for lunch tomorrow?" Ditzy asked as she set herself down on her hooves. "Say, noon at Sugar Cube Corner?"

Octavia smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"Great! See you then," Ditzy said as she walked past her and towards her house. Octavia waited for her to round the corner before she giggled and trotted in place excitedly, the bubbly feeling once more rising in her chest. Noon tomorrow. She couldn't wait!

Chapter 2

Octavia sat in front of the mirror, debating with herself whether or not she should wear her pink bow tie to lunch with Ditzy. The argument went back and forth between I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard and what if she thinks I'm not trying hard enough? She had been having this internal debate for the past hour and she wasn't any closer to making a decision than when she started.

"Gah!" she yelled, throwing the bow tie at the mirror. "Why does this have to be so difficult?!" She flopped backwards onto the bed behind her and sighed in exasperation, covering her face with her hooves. She turned and peeked at the clock on the night stand. She was supposed to be meeting Ditzy in half an hour and she hadn't even decided what to wear yet.

She sighed again, this time in resignation. She rolled off the bed and onto her hooves. Pausing there, she closed her eyes and dug deep down inside herself, trying to scrape together enough courage to leave the house. It was a close call, but she met her quota.

Nodding to herself, she opened her eyes, newfound determination lighting a fire behind them. "Right. No bow tie."

Having leaped the largest hurdle so far, Octavia went back to the mirror and gave herself one final glance-over. Showered? Check. Teeth brushed? Check. Mane combed? Check. Alright. Watch out, Ponyville, 'cause here comes Octavia.

With a confidence she never felt before, Octavia charged out of her bedroom, down the hall, thrust the front door open and leaped outside into the sunlight. She stopped there on her doorstep as cold reality suddenly started creeping up on her. She had no idea where Sugar Cube Corner was.

~ ~ ~

Ditzy Doo was humming merrily to herself as she flew, wearing her mail-carrier hat with her mailbag slung loosely over her shoulder. The next stack of letters in her hooves were addressed to Ponyville's only cloud home, the residence of one Rainbow Dash.

Ditzy landed with a gentle poof in front of the impressive cloud structure just as Rainbow Dash herself was emerging, undoubtedly having been asleep until just moments before.

"Morning, Dash!" Ditzy said brightly as she trotted up to the mail slot.

Rainbow yawned loud and long before she replied sleepily. "Morning, Derpy." Usually, the use of her nickname would have put Ditzy off, but nothing could ruin her good spirits today as she continued humming happily. Rainbow Dash took note of her peppiness.

"You're in a good mood today," she said, eyeing the mailmare suspiciously. "What's up?"

"I met somepony last night!" Ditzy exclaimed as she pushed the letters through the mail slot, unable to keep the smile from her face.

"Really?!" Dash exclaimed. "I mean, uh, good for you, Ditzy. That's great."

Ditzy seemed completely oblivious to her surprise. "I know, isn't it? And we're meeting today for lunch!"

"Wow, he must be totally into you then."

"No, silly!" Ditzy said with a giggle, Rainbow's implication going right over her head. "She's a mare!"

"What?!"

"Uh oh, I gotta go or else I'll be late. Bye, Rainbow Dash!"

Ditzy took off, leaving a speechless Rainbow Dash sitting on her doorstep, jaw hanging loosely in shock.

~ ~ ~

Octavia stepped nervously through the crowded market, attempting to find somepony to ask for directions. The only problem was she couldn't find a single pony who didn't scare her half to death. After realizing her catastrophic blunder of not getting directions from Ditzy the previous evening, she was sucked dry of every ounce of her courage. It took all of her willpower to not just go back inside and pretend she didn't have anywhere to be. Now here she was, trying to pick the friendliest face out of the crowd to approach, a task that she found increasingly hopeless.

Calm down she told herself. You can do this. Just walk up to somepony and--

"Well howdy there, sugar cube!" Octavia let out a surprised eeep! and nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the orange mare at the applecart she was next to speak directly to her. "Whoa, easy there, nelly. Heh, yer a jumpy one, ain't ya?"

"W...I-I, I, uh..." Octavia found that her ability to speak had checked out early, leaving her stuttering like a newborn foal.

The pony grabbed Octavia's hoof and began shaking it thoroughly, almost roughly, an act that nearly caused the musician to feint. "A mare a few words, eh? That's good, words are more trouble than they're worth. The name's Applejack, but ya can call me AJ. Lemme guess: ya wanted ta buy some apples, am Ah right?"

Octavia realized she had to respond or risk losing her hoof to this salespony. "Ah, Actually, um... I w-was wondering if you could tell me how to get to S-Sugar Cube Corner."

Applejack finally released her hoof, much to the mare's relief. "Well why didn't ya say so? It's the big pink buildin' right over there. Tell Pinkie Pie that I sent ya and she'll even give ya a discount," she added with a wink.

"Oh, alright. Ah, thank you."

"Don't mention it, sugar cube."

Octavia sighed as she walked away from the mare, relieved that she had escaped that near-death experience with nothing more than shaken nerves. She had no idea what a Pinkie Pie was, but if it had anything to do with Applejack, she knew she wanted to steer well clear of it.

She entered Sugar Cube Corner hesitantly, the little silver bell above the door announcing her presence in the most helpful way. She scanned the interior, looking for that familiar blonde mane. The store was crowded, but there were still a few unoccupied tables here and there. There were only a small number of ponies in line at the counter, as well.

"Hey, Octavia!" Octavia was relieved to hear Ditzy's overly-enthusiastic voice calling out to her from the far side of the room. She couldn't help but smile warmly when she managed to spot her over the crowd. She was surprised to see her wearing a mailmare's uniform. So that was the job that she was walking home from last night.

Octavia began making her way over to Ditzy, navigating the crowd as best she could.

"Hi, Ditzy," she said as soon as she got within talking distance. "How are... you..." Octavia's voice trailed off as she saw what was sitting on the table in front of the mare. It was a pyramid. A pyramid of muffins. A pyramid of muffins that reached up to nearly touch the ceiling.

"Hi, Octavia! I bought us some food already. I hope you don't mind." She flew up to the top of the monument and grabbed the highest muffin, stuffing the whole thing in her mouth at once. Her mismatched eyes closed in bliss as she savored its taste.

Octavia found herself laughing, charmed by Ditzy's eccentricity. "Do you plan on eating all those by yourself?" she asked with an amused smirk.

"Of course not, silly! You get half. Ooh, but I want most of the blueberry ones. Oh, and banana nut. I love banana nut. And cranberry. Hmm, maybe we should order some more..."

"I think we'll be alright with these," Octavia said, dissuading her from the idea quickly.

"If you say so," Ditzy shrugged.

The two sat and talked as they ate their lunch, the minutes passing slowly as they enjoyed each others company. Ditzy was the one who did most of the talking. And the eating. Octavia was content to sit and merely listen as Ditzy talked about her various interests and hobbies, many of which were somehow muffin related.

There were many things other than muffins she enjoyed, however. Ditzy talked fondly of cloud gazing, and how her mother used to sit on the clouds with her when she was a filly as they told each other what pictures they saw in the sky. Of her job and how much she loved seeing the smiles on ponies faces when she delivered their mail. Of her cutie mark and how she thought the bubbles represented her bubbly personality.

Octavia was quiet for the most part, only offering her input occasionally and sometimes laughing at Ditzy's jokes. She felt happy listening to her friend talk about everything and nothing. It was the same happy feeling she had felt last night after meeting the mare, the kind that rose in her chest until she felt light as a feather. Was this what she had been missing for all her life? Friendship?

"Octavia? Hellooooo? Anypony home?"

Octavia shook herself, realizing she had spaced out for a minute. "Oh. Sorry, Ditzy. What'd you say?"

"I asked what do you like to do for fun." Ditzy said as she took another muffin from the severely-diminished pyramid.

"For fun?" Octavia asked, her brain taking a moment to start back up.

"Yeah. You know. 'Whoohoo!' Fun."

Octavia couldn't remember the last time anything made her go whoohoo. "Well... uh... I like playing the cello..."

"I know that, silly!" Ditzy said with a laugh. "I meant what else do you do for fun?"

"Um... Well, I... uh..." Ditzy waited patiently for Octavia to answer, but she couldn't think of anything other than her cello. Was she really that boring? The thought scared her to no end. What if Ditzy thought she was boring? What if she didn't want to be friends with her anymore?!

"I think I know what the problem is," Ditzy said suddenly. Octavia froze, terrified of the next words to come out of her mouth. You're too boring to have any fun. I don't want to be your friend anymore.

"You need a teacher!"

Octavia looked at her with a blank stare. "Huh?"

"Yep! You need somepony to teach you how to have fun, and I'm just the pony for the job!" Ditzy said with a confident expression, saluting with her hoof. "Come on!" She flew over to Octavia and hooked her hooves around her, half dragging, half carrying her through the restaurant towards the door, her mail hat and bag forgotten along with the remnants of the muffin monument. Octavia felt the crushing weight of embarrassment as the other patrons looked on in amusement.

"H-hey! Ditzy!" Her objections fell on deaf ears as her friend continued dragging her outside and towards the Ponyville Lake. What have I gotten myself into? she wondered.

Chapter 3

Ditzy and Octavia reached the lake around one. The sun was still high above their heads as ponies played and relaxed all around them, taking advantage of the warm summer afternoon. Octavia had managed to convince Ditzy Doo that she was entirely capable of walking on her own. Ditzy had obliged and released her, though she seemed rather glum about it. She cheered up dramatically, however, as she did a little hop-skip-glide over the lake, landing with a large sploosh. She emerged moments later, squirting a jet of water from her mouth into the air.

Octavia chuckled, walking to the water's edge at a more dignified pace. "Alright, Ditzy!" she called out to her. "You dragged me out here! Now teach me, oh wise one!"

Ditzy waded towards her until she could stand in the shallows. "I can't teach you from over there, silly! You gotta get in with me!"

Octavia's smile faltered as she took a step backwards, her heart beat rising slightly. "I'm fine right here," she said. "I, uh, don't really like getting my mane wet."

"Come on, Octavia. It's only water," Ditzy said from the lake's shallows, the waves barely reaching up to lap at her tummy. She emphasized the point with a flap of her wings, the spray creating a miniature rainbow above her head that vanished after a moment.

Octavia wasn't convinced. She sat on the beach, looking at the water with trepidation. "But we just ate..."

"So? I'll save you if you get a cramp," Ditzy replied without any hint of sarcasm. "Just jump in!"

Octavia still hesitated, searching for some excuse to save her from having to enter the lake. "But it isn't that warm today..."

"The weather's super nice, and the water's just right." Ditzy cocked her head and looked at her with sad puppy-dog eyes. "What's wrong, Octavia? Don't you wanna go swimming with me?"

"Of course I do!" Octavia immediately reassured her. "It's just that..."

"Just that what?"

"I... um... Idon'tknowhowtoswim..." Octavia mumbled embarrassedly.

"Huh? What was that?" Ditzy asked, taking a step towards the shore as she strained her ears.

"Idon'tknowhowtoswim," She mumbled again, only slightly louder.

"Still can't hear you," Ditzy said as she took another step.

"I don't know how to swim!" Octavia blurted out loudly. The ponies around her stopped doing what they were doing as they stared at her strangely. A couple of them began to laugh. Octavia's cheeks burned intensely from all of the attention. Sweet Celestia, it's like I'm trying to push Ditzy away. She has to think I'm a loser now, right?

Ditzy flapped her wings and took flight, but instead of flying away, or flying towards her, she instead flew towards a young stallion and mare who had been building a sand castle but were now laughing at Octavia instead. She hovered in front of the pair, beating her wings furiously and spraying them with water in the process.

"Hey, what's so funny? I bet you can't play the cello like that mare can! So what if she can't swim? She's got more talent in one hoof than the both of you combined!"

Perhaps it was because she was soaking wet, or maybe it was because of those mismatched eyes glaring at them so angrily, but the couple backed down from Ditzy's challenge. They said a quiet word to each other before abandoning their castle and moving further down the beach. Ditzy watched them go, her glare shooting daggers at their backs.

Octavia couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. Ditzy Doo had just defended her, going so far as to confront complete strangers, all in the name of her honor. No pony had ever done anything half as kind for her before. She didn't understand how Ditzy could be so nice to her.

Ditzy returned to Octavia after she was sure the couple was gone, the little bounce in her step hiding any indication of the anger she had just shown towards them. "Some ponies just have no manners, huh?" she said with a smile.

"Ditzy, that was... Thank you."

"Well I wasn't just going to let anypony laugh at you--"

"No, that's not what I meant," Octavia said with a shake of her head. "I meant thank you... for being my friend."

Ditzy's smile widened until it covered her whole face, the joy it showed at her words matching the joy Octavia felt inside. "Let's teach you how to swim!" she said. "Then I can teach you how to have fun!"

Octavia nodded. "Deal."

~ ~ ~

Swimming didn't come as naturally to Octavia as music theory, but she was still a fast learner. After she had gotten over her fear of the water (with the constant encouragement of her "teacher"), It only took an hour before she was dog-paddling in the shallows. Another hour and they were swimming circles around each other as they played Mareco Polo.

By the time the sun was beginning to set, the two mares were sitting on the beach waiting for their coats to dry. Octavia lay normally, facing the west as the sky began to turn orange, while Ditzy lay on her back, using Octavia for a pillow as she gazed up at the clouds. The other ponies were beginning to depart as the day came to a close, leaving them to relax in their mutually-comfortable silence.

"Hey, Tavi?" Ditzy said after a good length of time. Octavia started slightly, surprised by the use of a nickname. The only ponies who had ever called her Tavi were her parents. She felt it was something special, something only shared between the ponies closest to her. It was odd then, she decided, that it felt totally natural for Ditzy to use it.

"Yeah, Ditzy?"

"I had a lot of fun today."

Octavia smiled warmly. "Me too."

"You wanna do this again sometime?" Octavia could feel Ditzy's head shift on her side as she turned to ask.

"Definitely."

They both grew quiet once more, each reflecting on the days events and how lucky they were to call the other friend. The peace didn't last for long, however, as a mare's voice suddenly called out.

"Derpy!"

Octavia looked to her right as Ditzy poked her head over her to see who was shouting as well. A bouncing pink mass of energy was hopping towards them along the lake's edge. The pony sported a huge smile and wore Ditzy's hat and mailbag that she had left at Sugar Cube Corner.

Octavia tilted her head in confusion. "What's a Derpy?"

"Oh, uh, she's looking for me," Ditzy said somewhat miserably.

Octavia switched her confused look from the pink mare to her friend, but wasn't able to ask any more before the bouncing pony reached them.

"Hi, Derpy! You forgot all your mail thingies at the store again!"

Ditzy flew over and retrieved the items. She tried to hide the new sadness she suddenly felt with a smile, but she didn't do a very good job of it. "Oh, thanks Pinkie. Sorry about that..."

Wait, this was the Pinkie Pie Applejack was talking about earlier? Octavia desperately hoped she wasn't as friendly as the salespony.

"That's the third time this week," Pinkie laughed, snapping Octavia from her thoughts. "Your such a silly filly!"

Pinkie turned her attention to Octavia then, much to her dread. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie!" she announced enthusiastically. "Who are you?"

Octavia opened her mouth to reply, but Pinkie quickly cut her off with a sharp gasp. "Are you the one Dashie told me about?!" She was about to ask what a Dashie was when Pinkie cut her off once more. "Oooooooh, you're such a lucky ducky!" Pinkie giggled. "You two are so cute together!"

Octavia was far from an expert on social interactions, but from her understanding, "together" was a term reserved for ponies that were dating. But, again, before Octavia could ask what she meant, Pinkie gasped. "I gotta get back to Sugar Cube Corner! It's the Cakes date night and I~I'm watching the twins!" she said in a sing-song voice. She trotted in place excitedly before turning and bounding back the way she came. "Bye Derpy!" she called over her shoulder.

They watched her disappear from view before sighing in unison. Somehow that pony had managed to drain Octavia of all her energy when she hadn't even put a word in edgewise. She looked at Ditzy. The Pegasus had landed and now sat on her haunches, clutching her mailbag and hat to her chest, sadness shadowing her features as she stared at the ground.

Octavia frowned, Ditzy's sadness becoming her sadness. "Ditzy?" she asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"

Ditzy sighed into her mailbag, muffling her words. "I'm such a feather-head."

"What?! No, you're not!" Octavia immediately asserted.

Ditzy obviously didn't feel the same way. "You heard her, Tavi. That's the third time this week I've forgotten my stuff at her store. That's the reason that everpony calls me Derpy..."

Octavia didn't know what to say. This was the first time that she had seen Ditzy depressed, and it tore at her heart like a rusty nail.

"Ditzy... I... I mean..."

Ditzy took off with slow, heavy wing beats, still clutching her bag like a safety blanket. "I'll see you tomorrow, Tavi."

Octavia wanted to say something, anything to help her, but she couldn't find the words. After everything Ditzy had done to help her, she could do nothing but watch silently as her only friend flew off into the darkening evening. She continued to stare at her diminishing figure until it was finally lost from sight.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she finally managed to speak. "Ditzy..."

Chapter 4

Octavia lay in her bed as she stared dismally at the ceiling. She wasn't sure of the time, but she thought it might be getting close to sunrise. She had been laying there like that for hours, trying to fall asleep, but she couldn't; not when every time she closed her eyes she saw the tearful face of Ditzy.

She growled in frustration as she pulled her pillow over her face. Perhaps she could just smother herself to sleep? She knew that wouldn't solve her problem, but what else was she supposed to do? Wander the streets of Ponyville, calling out Ditzy's name like some bad movie? Then what? Apologize to her and just expect her conscience to magically wipe itself clean?

Octavia thought about the idea seriously for a few minutes. Maybe... but no. She dismissed it, realizing how silly it sounded. But she had to do something. Just waiting until the next time she saw Ditzy and acting like everything was fine would just be selfish. Sure, Ditzy would act just like she did before, but they would both know the truth. And they would suffer for it.

Octavia bit down on her pillow, brow furrowed as she tried to think of a solution. There had to be something she could do, someway to show Ditzy just how much their friendship meant to her... Something big... She chewed on the pillow a bit, trying to make her brain work harder. She needed to apologize to and comfort her best friend... She'd never had a best friend before... She wasn't good at this kind of stuff... She needed help...

"THAT'S IT!" She shouted as she shot up in bed. She needed to do something great for Ditzy, but she couldn't do it alone. She needed somepony's help.

But who?

Octavia's mind immediately remembered Pinkie Pie. She seemed friendly and somewhat close to Ditzy, and she worked at the restaurant that Ditzy seemed so fond of. Perhaps they could use the place to throw a surprise party for her? Octavia felt like she was drowning just thinking of going that far out of her comfort zone... But if it made Ditzy even the slightest bit happier, it would be worth it.

Now Octavia just needed to work up the courage to talk to the pink ball of energy about her plan. She hoped that Pinkie Pie was good at throwing parties.

~ ~ ~

Octavia stepped tentatively through the front door of Sugar Cube Corner much like she had the previous day. She hadn't been able to fall asleep after coming up with her idea of throwing Ditzy a party; it had just made her too excited, and too nervous. So she stayed awake, much against her better judgment, and charged over to the restaurant/bakery (she was still unsure of its main function) as soon as the sun rose to find Pinkie Pie.

It looked as though Octavia was the store's first visitor of the day. "Um, h-hello?" She stuttered into the empty room.

"Just a sec~ond," came a sing-song reply from where Octavia assumed the kitchen to be in back. The very pony she was looking for came skipping out moments later with a tray of freshly baked cookies balancing on her head. She hummed to herself as she began placing the baked goods in the display case under the cash register. Octavia swallowed nervously before approaching her.

"Well hi there!" Pinkie said as she popped up from behind the counter. "How can I help--" She suddenly gasped as she recognized her. "Hey! You're Ditzy's special somepony!"

Octavia blinked in confusion. She may have been a tad socially awkward, but even she somewhat understood what somepony meant when they said special somepony.

"Uh, I don't think that's--"

"Oh, silly me!" Pinkie interrupted. "You're here to get Ditzy a gift, right? I mean, why else would you come here so early unless you wanted to surprise her?

The social ramifications of Pinkie's misunderstanding were completely pushed out of her head as Octavia saw an opening to tell her of her idea. "Well," she began, "I actually wanted to surprise her with a party, but I have no idea where to start. I was hoping maybe you could help me. Maybe we could even have it here?"

Pinkie Pie seemed to freeze at Octavia's words. She began to shift nervously on her hooves as seconds passed and she still didn't move. Had she done something wrong by asking to have the party here?

Finally Pinkie spoke. "That... sounds... AWESOME!"

Octavia blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Uh huh! We can have cake, and streamers, and balloons! Ooh, and games like apple bobbing and pin-the-tail-on-the-pony!" Pinkie Pie's smile grew wider and wider as she listed off all of her ideas. Most of them went right over Octavia's head as she was still coming to terms with her good fortune in finding such an enthusiastic pony to help her.

"Oh, that's right! You never told me your name!"

Octavia shook herself out of her daze as she realized Pinkie was speaking to her. "Huh?"

"Your name, silly filly! I gotta start making the invitations!"

"Oh, It's... I'm Octavia," she introduced herself.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie said as she bounced out from behind the counter. "Come on, we gotta lot of party planning to do!"

"What?" Octavia said, confused. "But I don't know anything about parties."

"That's what I'm here for, silly!" Pinkie said as she began pushing Octavia towards the stairs leading to the second floor. "With both of us planning it, it'll be the best. Party. Ever!"

Octavia sighed in resignation. Whatever it took to see Ditzy smile...

~ ~ ~

Octavia made her way back home as the sun was beginning to set. She was completely exhausted. Her crash course in party planning combined with staying up the previous night had zapped every ounce of her strength. Of course Pinkie Pie was still bouncing when she left, but that hardly surprised her by now. She found herself smiling as she thought about the eternally-hyper pony. She didn't know how or when it happened, but she had made another friend.

As Octavia walked up the steps to her house, she noticed a little pink envelope lying at the foot of her door. Curious, she thought. It was the same type of envelope they had decided to send out the party invitations in, but it couldn't be. She had just left Sugar Cube Corner. There was no way Pinkie could have delivered all the invitations yet... right?

Octavia picked up the letter and opened it. It was the party invitation alright. But what the invitation said made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. In the center of a giant red heart, it said:

Dear Octavia,

You are invited to attended
the surprise day-iversary party of
Octavia and Ditzy Doo
tomorrow at 3:00

P.S. Don't tell Ditzy, it's a surprise!

Chapter 5

Octavia felt light headed as she sat there and looked at the party invitation in her hooves. This letter said flat-out that Ditzy and her were in a romantic relationship, and there were tons more like it, all probably already in the hooves of every resident in Ponyville. She should have realized this was coming when Pinkie Pie had offered to write all the invitations herself.

Octavia wanted to fix this terrible and embracing mix up as soon as possible. She really, really wanted to fix it. But she hadn't slept in nearly thirty-six hours. When faced with the choice of either going back to Pinkie Pie and telling her of her mistake or heading inside and going to bed, the answer was obvious.

I'll go over there first thing in the morning and get this whole mess sorted out before the party starts she thought as she dragged herself through the front door. After trudging down the hall, she entered her bedroom and immediately threw herself on the mattress. She barely had time to remove her bow tie before sleep overtook her.

~ ~ ~

Octavia's sleep that night was a jumble of fragmented dreams that came and went. It were as though she were wading through a thick fog, only catching glimpses of the visions her subconscious decided to show her.

One of them was very pleasant. She sat on the same beach as the other day, Ditzy Doo pressed up against her side as they watched the sunset. She could feel the warmth of the sun on her fur, but the only warmth that held her attention was coming from the mare beside her. If there were such a thing as heaven, she was sure this was it.

The beach soon melted away and was replaced by a grand theater. Octavia stood center stage. She was playing her cello, performing for a packed house. Butterflies began to do aerial stunts in her stomach as she looked out across the audience, seeing all their stoic faces and criticizing eyes. Her gaze fell on the front row and the butterflies suddenly vanished. There, sitting right in front of her, was Ditzy, giving her an encouraging smile that filled her heart with happiness.

It only lasted a moment, though.

As that dream began to dissolve, it was replaced by a much darker one. Octavia found herself inside Sugar Cube Corner during the party. Ditzy sat in the middle of the crowded room, crying as everypony pointed and laughed at her, calling her Derpy. Octavia instantly tried to run to her side, tried to call out her name, but Ditzy only got further away from her, Octavia's words never reaching her ears. Tears began falling down her own face as she realized how helpless she was. The ground suddenly gave way beneath her hooves, and she fell into darkness, the last terrible image of Ditzy's agony burned into her mind.

"Ditzy!"

~ ~ ~

Octavia awoke suddenly on the floor in a tangle of sheets, her entire side aching after the short fall from her bed. She didn't move right away. Her mind, body, and eyes were all taking their sweet time adjusting to her new wakeful state. She hugged the sheets to her, the memory of that last terrible nightmare causing her to shiver. She didn't believe in fate or premonitions, but she found herself worrying about the party all the same. What if they did tease Ditzy? What if she really couldn't do anything?

Those and many other depressing thoughts bounced around in her head for a few minutes until she finally decided to wake up. With a yawn and a stretch she stood, glancing at the clock on her night stand. Ten o'clock. She was surprised to realize she had slept for nearly fourteen hours.

That only gives me five hours until the party, she thought to herself. I need to talk to Pinkie before then.

With her goal set, Octavia quickly showered, brushed, ate, put on her bow tie, and ran out the door. She was pleased to find that her confidence today was unusually high. Perhaps it was that she had a clear purpose, or maybe it was just the frosted mini-hays she had eaten for breakfast. Either way, Octavia felt she could handle anything the day threw at her.

~ ~ ~

Octavia entered Sugar Cube corner at a normal pace, not timidly stopping to look around as she had the previous two times. The store was closed today in preparation for the party. How Pinkie had managed to get permission for that was beyond her.

The pony in question stood on a ladder next to the wall furthest from her, hanging streamers from the ceiling. "Pinkie Pie," Octavia called to her.

"Hi, Octy!" Pinkie greeted her happily. "Wanna help me decorate? We gotta make sure everything looks super-duper! Your day-iversary only happens once, you know!"

"That's actually kinda what I wanted to talk to you about."

Pinkie Pie heard the seriousness in her tone. She stopped hanging streamers and turned to look at her from the top of the ladder. "Is something wrong, Octy?"

"Well, not really wrong... but you know those invitations that you sent out?"

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically with a smile.

"And how they said it was me and Ditzy's day-iversary?

She nodded again.

"In the middle of a giant heart?"

Pinkie Pie tilted her head, waiting for the bad part.

"Well..." Octavia had hoped that Pinkie would realize her mistake without forcing her to say it blatantly, but it seemed she had no such luck. "Me and Ditzy, we're... w-we aren't together l-like... like that..." Octavia couldn't look Pinkie in the eye as her face became unbearably hot. Why it made her so uncomfortable to tell Pinkie the truth was beyond her.

Pinkie Pie suddenly leaped from the top of the ladder, landing face-first on the ground. She popped back onto her hooves a moment later no worse for wear. "Ooooooh, I gotchya! So it's like that, huh?"

Octavia breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have resolved the mix up so quickly. "So now that you know how it is, you're going to clear this up with all the ponies you invited, right?"

"Yeppers! I'll fill all of them in, no worries!" she assured her with a grin.

"Thanks, Pinkie," Octavia said, returning her smile. "Now lets finish putting these streamers up, shall we?"

~ ~ ~

Within the next few hours, Pinkie Pie and Octavia transformed the inside of the restaurant into Party Central, complete with games, punch, balloons, and cake. The two of them sat at one of the tables for a moment to admire their work.

"Do you think Ditzy will like it?" Octavia asked with a worried frown. She had done all of this to see her friend smile, after all.

"What do you think?" Pinkie replied as she helped herself to the punch bowl.

Octavia thought for a few moments before speaking. "I think she will."

Pinkie handed her a cup of the pink drink, smiling warmly at her. "Then she'll like it."

Octavia took the refreshment gratefully, her spirit lifted by Pinkie's words. She chuckled quietly as she stared at the punch in her hooves.

"What's the joke?" Pinkie asked curiously.

"It's not really a joke, it's just... all of this?" Octavia gestured to the room at large. "If somepony had told me a week ago that I'd be planning a surprise party for my best friend, I would have told them they were nuts."

Pinkie giggled at that. "What's nuts about doing something nice for somepony you care about?"

Octavia smiled. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Pinkie hopped up onto her hooves. "That's right, silly. Now hurry up and finish that punch. It's almost time for you to go get the guest of honor!"

~ ~ ~

Octavia approached the building that Pinkie had told her about. Apparently, it was the Ponyville Post Office, and Ditzy should have been getting off work any moment. She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves. She entered the Post Office a tad more timidly than she had at Sugar Cube Corner earlier. Another one of those annoying bells above the door alerted everypony to her presence. She swore she would someday see all of those bells destroyed.

"Tavi!"

Octavia was ripped out of her thought process and into the air as Ditzy wrapped her hooves around her and brought her into a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so sorry I flew off the other day like that! I was just kinda sad, but then I said I'd see you tomorrow, but then I didn't see you all day, and I thought you might be mad at me, but then I remembered you're so kind and you wouldn't be mad, but I was still kinda mad at myself, and I--"

"Ditzy!" Octavia shouted to stop the flood of words.

Ditzy fell silent, but still clung to Octavia tightly as they hovered a foot off the ground. The other ponies in the Post Office were all watching them by this point, but she didn't care; Ditzy thought she was mad at her, and that's all that mattered.

Octavia gently returned Ditzy's hug. "Ditzy, listen to me." Her words were as soft and gentle as her embrace. "I'm not mad at you. Not at all. If anything I'm mad at myself for not saying anything before you flew away. I didn't know you were hurting so much." Octavia felt Ditzy's tear land on her cheek. "I came here to say I'm sorry, and to make it up to you. Will you go on a walk with me?"

Ditzy sniffled as she set them both down. "Ok," she said shakily, a small smile brushing her lips. The two left the Post Office as the onlookers went back to their own lives.

They were quiet on their way to Sugar Cube Corner. Octavia thought that Ditzy would have been a bit more talkative, but as Ditzy pressed herself to her side, she decided words were overrated.

They reached the pink candy-coated building all too quickly. Ditzy looked up and realized where they were heading for the first time. "What are we doing here?"

"I, uh... thought you might like a muffin," Octavia improvised quickly. The smile that those words put on her friend's face caused her to laugh out loud. "Come on, Ditzy."

They made their way up to the door, opened it, and...

"SURPRISE!!!" shouted dozens of ponies in unison.

Ditzy and Octavia both gasped, though for slightly different reasons. Ditzy's gasp was caused by a mixture of surprise and happiness. Octavia's gasp was caused by surprise and dread. All the decorations she and Pinkie Pie had put up earlier-- the balloons, the streamers, the party hats, all of it-- had been replaced. The streamers were now white and pink. The balloons were all shaped like hearts. Even the punch had little strawberry hearts floating in it. She didn't even want to see the cake.

Pinkie slid in next to her. "Surprise!" she yelled again. Ditzy was too enraptured with the beauty of it all to reply, and Octavia was just at a loss for words. "Do you like it? Huh? Huh? Huh? I filled in all the party guests, just like you said!" She slipped a party hat onto Octavia's head. She was still too stunned to resist. "Happy Your-Now-Officially-Together-Minute-iversary Party!"

Chapter 6

Octavia stood in the doorway of Sugar Cube Corner with an askew party hat atop her head as she looked at all the faces of ponies who had been told a lie. A very embarrassing and altogether untrue lie about her and Ditzy's relationship. Ditzy, on the other hoof, showed no signs that she even cared as she just looked at it all with an ever-growing smile. Octavia wondered if she even knew what everyone thought about them.

Octavia's embarrassment quickly turned to anger as she realized that Pinkie Pie had not understood at all what she was trying to tell her earlier. In some subconscious part of her brain, she understood that it was only an error in communication that had brought about this unfortunate event, but she still felt an irrational anger towards Pinkie for telling everypony that her and Ditzy were a couple. Or, at least they were now if she understood the term minute-iversary correctly.

The pink culprit was still standing beside her, watching her expression with a look of happy expectations, like a foal waiting for somepony to hand them an ice cream cone.

"Pinkie Pie..." Octavia hissed through gritted teeth.

Pinkie's smile faltered when she heard her tone of voice. "What is it, Octy? Don't you like the color pink?"

Before she could reply, Octavia was assaulted by the rest of the ponies in attendance. In a wave of well-wishes and congratulations, she was swept off her hooves and into the party, Ditzy floating after her in a state of bliss. Pinkie Pie remained near the door, her mane and tail drooping in sadness as she tried to understand Octavia's reaction.

~ ~ ~

Octavia was not enjoying herself. Everypony was constantly congratulating her on her new relationship status, so much so that she couldn't get a single word in edge wise. Ditzy had disappeared as well, leaving her to be devoured by the happy mob.

"I'm so happy for you two!"

"So, when's the wedding?"

"Aren't anniversaries just so romantic?"

"So you're the mare Derpy's been fooling around with."

That last comment set Octavia's cheeks on fire. She whirled around to find the most colorful mare she had ever seen staring directly at her. Her mane was literally a rainbow of colors, and her magenta eyes spoke of a confidence all too foreign to the quiet musician. Needless to say, Octavia was intimidated.

Not a moment passed before an orange hoof brought itself up and smacked the prismatic mare over the head. "Mind you're manners, Rainbow." Octavia immediately recognized the voice of the sales pony who had pointed her to Sugar Cube Corner just the other day.

"Come on, AJ, I was just having some fun" Rainbow replied defensively.

"Well stop havin' fun, then. No need ta go embarrassin' the love birds."

The heat in Octavia's cheeks intensified. She had to put a stop to this misunderstanding quickly, before it got any more out of hoof. "Um, actually--"

"TAVI!!!"

A grey blur crashed into Octavia, tackling her to the ground. The world spun around her and the air was knocked from her lungs as she was crushed between the floor and something heavy. As her vision came back into focus, she realized that Ditzy was lying on top of her, wearing a huge smile with tears in her eyes.

"Is it true, Tavi?"

Octavia was too dazed, confused, and utterly bewildered to make any sort of coherent reply. "Wha-- huh?"

"Did you really throw this party for me?" she clarified. Ditzy's face was uncomfortably close to her own as she waited for an answer. Octavia realized that the whole party had grown quiet as everypony was waiting to hear her answer as well. They had the entire room's attention. She realized she could clear up everything right then if she only said the words "we are not together"... No more embarrassment... No more awkwardness... But as she gazed into Ditzy's eyes--those beautiful, golden, misty, mismatched orbs--she realized that she couldn't.

No. Not that she couldn't, but that she didn't want to. She would go on bearing all the embarrassment and the awkwardness and the insinuations if she could only make Ditzy happy in this single moment.

So she smiled softly and nodded her head.

Ditzy's reaction was immediate. The tears that had been building finally broke free. She smiled and laughed, bringing Octavia into a tight hug as she lifted them both off the floor with happy wing beats. Everypony in the room stomped their approval, cheering for their public display of affection. Ditzy's happiness was so contagious, Octavia actually forgot for a moment why they were cheering as she returned her hug.

"Alright, alright, enough of the sappy junk!" Rainbow Shouted over the dying cheers. "It's time to get this party really going! DJ, you know what to do!"

The white unicorn at the turn tables merely put her hoof in the air in response as she began playing the track she had selected.

Ditzy lowered them both to the ground as the lights in the room dimmed, creating more of a club aesthetic. All the ponies began bouncing, moving and swaying to the music. Octavia could tell that everyone was really enjoying themselves.

As soon as all four of Ditzy's hooves touched the floor, she began swaying her hips slightly as well, closing her eyes as she felt the beat resonate inside of her. Each time the kick came in, she would bounce her rump slightly, swishing her tail back and forth in time to the music. Octavia found the movements to be cute, yet strangely alluring as well.

"What are you doing?" Octavia asked as she pulled her eyes away from Ditzy's flank.

"Huh?"

"I said what are you doing?" she asked again, a little louder this time.

"It's called dancing, silly!"

Octavia merely blinked. Well of course it was dancing. It just wasn't any sort of dancing that she was used to. All the parties she had ever attended were for the elite of Canterlot, where Ballroom Dancing was the norm. Ditzy's movements were free and instinctive, and for some reason Octavia just couldn't get enough of it.

"Hey, Ditzy?" Octavia half-shouted over the music, a thought suddenly occurring to her. "Who told you that I threw this party for you?"

"Pinkie Pie told me" she replied.

Pinkie Pie? Octavia realized that she hadn't seen the official party planner since the start of the party. She craned her neck and scanned the darkness for her fluffy pink mane, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Do you know where she went?" Octavia asked her, but Ditzy merely shook her head.

The memory of seeing Pinkie near the door earlier came back to her. She looked confused and hurt. Octavia felt a lump in her stomach as she remembered how angry she felt then towards her. Did she leave the party because of her?

"I'm going to go look for her," she informed Ditzy. Ditzy paused mid-sway as she looked her in the eyes for a brief moment. Some unknown emotion was held within them, but then it vanished and she nodded her head as she continued her dance. Octavia hesitated as she tried to figure out what had been in Ditzy's eyes, but she realized she had to find Pinkie. Ditzy's eyes could wait.

Shuffling across the dance floor, Octavia made her way to the nearest wall before heading for the exit. She opened the door and slipped outside, the music becoming muffled once she closed it behind her.

The sun was already nearing the horizon, its orange rays falling softly over the cobblestones of the street. There, in the rays of the setting sun, was Pinkie Pie, sitting at one of the outside tables of the store, making little circles in the dirt with her hoof. It seemed like she had not yet realized Octavia was there.

"Pinkie?" Octavia said as she walked over to her.

She started when she heard her name. "Oh, hey Octy." Pinkie tried to put on one of her carefree smiles, but Octavia saw through it in a heart beat.

"How come you're sitting out here all alone?" she asked with a concerned frown.

Pinkie merely sighed. "I'm sorry, Octavia."

She blinked in confusion. "Sorry? What for?"

"You were mad at me earlier because I changed all of the decorations, right? I should have known you wouldn't want all that lovey dovey stuff at your minute-iversary party. Of course you want to wait a little longer before you pull out all the stops."

Octavia started laughing. She just couldn't help herself. Pinkie's rationalization for her anger earlier was just too outrageous.

Pinkie tilted her head in confusion. "What's the joke?"

Octavia clarified as soon as she caught her breath. "I wasn't mad that you replaced all the decorations, Pinkie. I was mad that you told everyone that Ditzy's my special somepony."

Pinkie looked more confused than ever. "But... she is your special somepony. Isn't she?"

Octavia shook her head. "Nope. We're only friends."

Pinkie looked thoughtful for a moment before she started laughing, too. "Alright, I can see why you were a little mad at me."

"Don't worry, I'm over it," Octavia reassured her with a smile. She raised her hoof towards Pinkie. "Friends?"

"Friends!" Pinkie bumped her hoof against Octavia's enthusiastically. "Now come on, we got a party to get back too!"

Chapter 7

The party lasted well into the evening hours. By the time the sun's light could be seen cresting the horizon, most of the ponies had ended up passed out on the floor, thanks in part to the "anniversary present" Applejack had brought, and then Pinkie Pie's less-than-genius idea to spike the punch bowl with it.

The mare herself mumbled sleepily from her position lying atop the DJ's turn tables. "Best. Party. Ever."

Octavia had curled up on the couch earlier than most. A pillow was now clutched tightly to her chest as tiny snores escaped her with each little breath she took. A gentle smile graced her lips.

A grey hoof reached out to brush against her own. "Tavi," Ditzy's voice whispered softly into her ear.

Octavia stirred, waking reluctantly from the pleasant dream she was having. She was surprised to find the very subject of that dream staring back at her with those brilliant mismatched eyes.

"Ditzy...?" Octavia said groggily as she lifted her head.

Ditzy placed her hoof over Octavia's mouth, whispering "Shhhhhhhh." Octavia fully awoke, her heart beat spiking as her eyes widened in surprise at the complete disregard of personal space. Her cheeks reddened from awkward embarrassment rather than indignation. She finally managed to nod in understanding, allowing Ditzy to lower her hoof.

"What's going on?" Octavia asked, lowering her voice significantly. "What time is it?"

"It's pretty early," Ditzy informed her. "I just wanted to show you something." The smile Ditzy wore as she said that almost made up for the fact that Octavia had only gotten a few hours of sleep.

She lowered her head with a quiet groan, voicing her annoyance. "Couldn't you show it to me later? My head's still pounding."

Ditzy shook her head, never losing that giant grin. "Uh-uh. It doesn't last very long. You have to get up now if you want to see it."

That got Octavia's attention. After a moment, she sighed in defeat, knowing that her curiosity would win out. Besides, she was already awake.

She felt a familiar heat rise through her as she remembered why she was wide awake in the first place. The softness of Ditzy's hoof, its warmth as it brushed against her lips--

No! Octavia mentally bucked herself as her mind began to wander down dark paths. That was her friend she was thinking about. You don't think those things about your friends.

"Hurry up and come outside," Ditzy said before turning to leave, giving Octavia a perfect view of--

No!

~ ~ ~

Octavia exited the bakery quietly, being sure to gently close the door until she heard a soft click. Ditzy was waiting for her outside, staring out towards the horizon. She turned at the sound of the door closing, beaming happily at Octavia. She found the smile infectious as began grinning herself as she trotted up to her.

"So, where is it?" Octavia asked, looking around as she tried to spot what Ditzy wanted to show her.

"Where's what?" Ditzy responded in confusion.

Octavia face-hoofed.

"Oh... oh!" Ditz exclaimed as she finally understood. "It's not something you can hold in your hoof." Now it was Octavia's turn to be confused.

Ditzy looked away from her sheepishly, the grin she wore turning into a worried frown. "U-um... uh, T-Tavi?"

Octavia had to wonder what had caused the Pegasus to become so timid all of a sudden. "What's wrong, Ditzy?"

Ditzy closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves. She opened them again, a new determination behind them. "Do--Do you... trust me?"

The question took Octavia aback. "W-what? Of course I trust you! You're the nicest, kindest, sweetest, sexiest mare I've ever met!"

Octavia had spoken quickly and from the heart in an attempt to reassure Ditzy. She didn't even realize exactly what she had said until she saw the blush on her friends cheeks, her eyes wide and completely focused on her.

"W-what?" Ditzy squeaked.

Octavia's body froze in pure terror as her mind raced to make a list of options to remedy the situation. Change your identity and flee the country was at the top of that list, making her feel exceptionally hopeless. Seeing no alternative, she decided her best course of action would be to deny that the last five seconds ever happened.

"I-I said I trust you," she said as nonchalantly as possible, avoiding Ditzy's eyes like the plague.

Ditzy said nothing. Octavia grew more and more nervous as the silence stretched on, inspecting the ground at her hoof religiously.

She nearly breathed a sigh of relief as Ditzy responded awkwardly, "That's, uh, not really the kind of trust I was talking about. I meant, would you trust me to carry you. While flying."

That... was an entirely different question. Octavia found herself hesitating to say yes. It wasn't like she didn't adore her, but when it came to trusting her life to the admittedly clumsy mare... It didn't help that heights were another item on the list of her aversions.

On the other hoof, Octavia knew that Ditzy wouldn't ask this unless she trusted herself one hundred percent. That reasoning alone caused her to have complete faith in her friend.

Octavia nodded, and was rewarded with Ditzy's happiest smile.

Ditzy held out her hoof to her friend. "Come here," she spoke softly.

There was no hesitation from Octavia this time as she stepped forward obediently. Ditzy flapped her wings and hovered over her, wrapping her arms gently around her barrel. Squeezing her to her chest, Ditzy beat her wings harder as they lifted off the ground, the steady thump-thump of her heart causing Octavia to forget her fear of heights momentarily.

That moment didn't last very long. By the time the ponies on the ground started to look like ants, Octavia was having trouble breathing. She stared upwards at the passing clouds, not daring to chance a look at the ground. She knew that the moment she did, she would lose what little nerve she still had left. Along with the contents of her stomach.

Ditzy could tell Octavia was anxious, despite her attempts to resist squirming. "It's not much further," she told her comfortingly.

"I hope so," Octavia croaked.

The sky was brightening every minute. The clouds became gilded in the brightest gold as the rising sun lit their undersides, while leaving the earth below in shadow. Ditzy began to descend into a massive, overgrown forest. Octavia didn't even realize it until the tallest branches entered her field of vision.

"Where are we?" Octavia asked curiously.

"The Everfree Forest," came her dour reply.

Octavia had heard of the wild forest, but she had never expected to see it with her own eyes. The tales she had heard spoke of monsters, darkness, and, from the tone of Ditzy's voice, they were based on some truth.

"Remind me why we're here again?" Octavia inquired ruefully.

All she said was, "You'll see."

The cryptic response was hardly enough to sate her palette, but Octavia accepted it in stubborn silence.

The sun's rays were now catching the canopy of the forest, giving each tree a golden crown. Hardly an image that inspired terror in the hearts of ponies.

A glint of light shone through the trees, catching Octavia's eye. Then another. And another. From somewhere just ahead of them, light was pouring through the forest, as though Celestia herself were waiting to greet them.

They finally flew out of the forest and into a clearing, and Octavia gasped in awe of what she saw.

Ice.

The trees, the rocks, even the ground itself were made of crystal-clear ice. The suns rays were being caught by the prism-like branches of the ice trees, showering the clearing with a rainbow of colors that bounced off of every frozen surface, creating a veritable web of light around the ponies. At the center of the clearing was another tree, but this one was different than the others. It was smaller, and the leaves cascaded downwards on vines, creating a frosty curtain of foliage. Bright red rubies twinkled from behind the curtain, telling of the berries that grew within.

Octavia was still trying to wrap her head around how this was even possible during the height of Summer as Ditzy set her down on the ground, landing next to her with a flap of her wings.

"What is this place?" Octavia asked quietly, afraid that the spell might be broken if she raised her voice.

Ditzy shrugged. "I'm not sure myself. But my mom told me a story that this is the final resting place of a Windigo."

"Those monsters that almost froze Equestria over?!" Every foal grew up hearing tales of the first Hearth's Warming Eve. To think that she might be standing on top of one of those malicious spirits caused Octavia to shiver.

Ditzy wrapped a wing around her and drew her close, ignoring Octavia's little eep at the unexpected contact. "Watch," she whispered, pointing a hoof towards the small tree in the center of the clearing.

The sun was still rising. As more and more of its light fell onto the ice sculptures, the more brilliant the colors swirling around them became. But it wasn't until the sunlight reached the tree in the center that the real show began.

The entire tree exploded with white light, momentarily blinding Octavia. She shut her eyes tight, an afterimage of it burned into her retinas. She squinted into the whiteness and saw waves of crimson emanating from the tree's berries. They seemed to absorb the light like a sponge, releasing it in pulsing waves.

"Sweet Merciful Celestia," Octavia prayed under her breath. "It's... It's alive!"

Indeed, the crimson waves of light were being released with the same rhythm as a heartbeat, two at a time. If the clearing were a living thing, the tree would have been its heart, the crimson light its blood. The same light that they were being bathed in... That thought made her shiver again despite the warm wing draped over her back.

After a few moments, the light began to get weaker. The pulsing waves began to slow and the ice started to melt.

"What's happening?" Octavia asked, a strange melancholy settling over her.

"What happens every morning," Ditzy answered sadly. "The ice always disappears when the sun comes up. That's why I couldn't show you later."

The sound of countless water droplets filled the air. The ice was gone within minutes after sunrise. Octavia and Ditzy remained, their new surroundings downright depressing after witnessing that wonderful winter wonderland.

Octavia was the first to speak. "Thank you, Ditzy. That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

Ditzy looked at her, wearing a bashful smile. "After everything you've done for me... This was the least I could do." Her bashful expression suddenly turned into a sly one. "But if you wanted to help me with something, I have a favor to ask."

Normally, Octavia would have jumped at the chance to help Ditzy. But when she saw the look in her friend's eyes, all she could do was gulp nervously. Oh, this should be good...