AMORE OBBLIGATO

Chapter 10: Morendo

Beltane 23, 996 AI

Day 72 since “the Decision”. What Cady said has proven to be true. Though the pain has weakened to a dull ache, I find that ache permeating every aspect of my life. I think that had I known how much this would hurt, I might have chosen differently. Alas, too much time has passed, and looking at her now, I cannot really fault my choice. They look so happy together, that I hate to think that I might have come between them. Of course, that's assuming that I even could have seriously been a contender for the heart of ~~the fairest pony in the land~~ ~~one of~~ HER.

They invited me to another party set for next week; naturally, I declined, not that they make it easy. Vinyl is so likable and energetic, it's hard to begrudge her any happiness, yet, here I am, brooding over the mare she loves, wishing I could be her, even if just for a day. I want to be the one who holds her hand, kisses those lips, drapes an affectionate arm over her, piulling hercloseaand

My apologies. My mind tends to drift whenever I think about Octavia, and I needed a moment to collect myself. You know what I mean. As I was saying, they invited me, and I almost caved when I saw the disappointment in Octavia's eyes. I felt like I had just kicked a puppy, but I just can't stand to see the two of them together. Either one alone, I can handle; Vinyl's almost like an older cousin, and Octavia... well, she's Octavia. Separate, they're both enjoyable company; they don't even talk about each other; well, not much, anyway. Get them together, however, and it's like they become glued at the hip. They almost never cease touching each other, are constantly giving one another secret looks that one can be sure communicates something deeper than what an outsider can glean, and good grief, the giggling! One wouldn't think a pony like Octavia capable of giggling like that, but put her with Vinyl, and she turns into another mare altogether. Usually.

So, yes. I turned them down, but only just. I suppose you're wondering about that little qualifier I put at the end there, aren't you? Well, it's nothing on which I can quite place my finger, but there's an... air about them, lately. They almost seem... anxious. Whenever I ask them if something is wrong, they just laugh and brush aside my concern, but I can feel it. It's like

“Twi, you have a visitor!”

Twilight rolled her eyes as she snapped the journal shut and sent it back to its hidden subspace compartment in her room. Rolling off the bed, she landed on her hooves and straightened her skirt before walking out into the the apartment's parlor, where she found probably, the last pony she expected to see there. “Vinyl? What brings you here?”

The deejay walked over and gave her a quick hug. “Hey there, Jailbird! You got a minute to go for a walk? I need to talk to you about something sorta important.”

Checking her internal chronometer spell, Twilight noted that she still had over an hour before her usual bedtime. Nodding, she replied, “Sure. Let's go to the garden; it's usually pretty deserted this time of night.” Turning to the little dragon, she said, “Spike, get ready for bed, and lock up. I'll take my key with me so you won't have to wait up if I'm gone for too long.”

Spike grumbled as he walked off, looking disappointed.

Gesturing towards the door, Twilight said, “Shall we?”

Vinyl shook her head in amusement. “It never ceases to amaze me that you have a dragon for a baby brother. I'm an only child, so I never got to experience that, let alone with one from another species.”

“He's just like any other little brother, really,” Twilight replied with a shrug as she closed the door. “He gets underhoof sometimes, and can annoy the Hay out of me, but I really wouldn't trade him for the world.”

They talked of inconsequential things as they walked past the guards and on towards the palace gardens, the chilly night air turning their breath into a smokey cloud before them. They walked out into the garden, their hooves crunching on the browned grass until they came upon a stone bench under an arbor, far from any door, affording them a measure of privacy. Vinyl, being the forward pony she was, broached the subject of her visit first. “I came here, hoping to convince you to show up at the party next Satyrday. It would really mean a lot to us, Octy especially. She's really taken a shine to you, you know. I think you remind her of herself, or something.”

Twilight sighed as she sat down next to her and looked out over the pond. “I was afraid that was the reason for the visit. Look, I appreciate-”

“We're leaving.”

Caught off guard by the non-sequitur, Twilight asked, “Pardon?”

Vinyl sighed and took off her sunglasses that she always wore despite how dark the night became. “You know that we're seniors, right? And you know what happens after that. This may be the last chance for us to get together as friends for a long time; maybe ever. I for one, know that I'll miss having our little criminale around, and I know Octy will miss having her first student around to go all gooey over. It's not even like there'll be a lot of others at the party; just a gathering of our closest friends, most of which you already know. We... we just want to hang out one last time before graduation next month and we move on to higher education, or work, or whatever.”

Twilight had watched her throughout her spiel, honestly surprised at the obvious emotion from the older filly. The deejay even looked younger than she normally acted, keeping her gaze down at the dormant grass and her voice full of sadness. “I... I had honestly not considered that we might not be in the same city. Octavia told me about her plans for Galliard, but it sorta didn't quite register, you know? It always felt far off. I always thought you'd just stick around, doing your club gigs here in Canterlot.”

Smirking, Vinyl looked over and raised an eyebrow at her. “Twilight, you know that the club scene here in Canterlot is dead on arrival. I'm lucky if I can snag two or three hours a week at the turntables, what with all the competition, and there's all of, what, four, five nightclubs in all of Canterlot? Talk about slim pickings.”

“I'm sorry. I hadn't thought of that. What are your plans, then?” Twilight asked, chagrined at her thoughtlessness.

Vinyl shrugged, turning her attention to the pond where fireflies had started to gather. “S'alright. I don't like to talk about it much anyways; trying to avoid thinking about all the cool ponies I'm leaving behind.” She sighed and scuffed at the grass with a hoof. “SSU has a cracking good music program; not anything like the school Octy's going to, but still top rate for what I want from it. As a nice bonus, being located in Manehattan, the nightclub to deejay ratio is much more favorable over there.”

“Star Swirl U? That's... pretty ambitious, especially for a self-admitted slacker like yourself,” Twilight commented with a smirk.

The white unicorn playfully ruffled Twilight's mane. “Careful with that sarcasm. It's a dangerous weapon in inexperienced hands.”

Twilight chuckled and gently pushed away the offending hand. She was silent a moment before asking, “Wha- what are you going to do with Octavia so far away?”

“Hmm...” Vinyl said, looking to the stars. “Not sure.” Looking down at her again, she smiled and playfully punched her shoulder. “Seriously though, you should come. If nothing else, then for your favorite tutor.”

With a roll of her eyes, Twilight replied, “Fine, I'll go, but the first sign of a prank, and I'm gone. Got it?”

Vinyl held up two fingers side by side and placed her other hand over her heart. “Scout's honor.”

“You were a Filly Scout? I find that hard to believe,” Twilight said with a smirk.

With an expression of blatantly false indignation, Vinyl replied, “I'll have you know that I was in the Filly Scouts... for an afternoon... before they booted me out for sewing the den mother's uniform... to a chair... while she was wearing it.”

Twilight groaned as she shook her head in her palms.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

It was at moments like this that Twilight saw what Octavia and Vinyl meant when they talked about being lost in one's muse. It didn't happen often to her, but they assured her that if she loved the music as much as it loved her, it would happen. The violin felt almost alive in her hands as she played, the music resonating with her whole body.

Her eyes were closed, so she didn't notice when her body began moving to the music, her meager dancing skills adding to the energy of the performance. Unknowingly, her horn glowed, creating brief images of swirling snow that moved with her that disappeared before touching the floor, and a rime of frost appeared on her, giving her the appearance of an ice sculpture come to life.

Octavia shivered as a chill breeze blew past her, almost causing her to miss a note, but she managed to keep her fingers on the piano's keyboard. She looked over towards Twilight and smiled at how much her student had lost herself to the music. While relatively simple as far as her part was concerned, the song was still at the upper end of the unicorn's talents currently; though she was certain that would change if she kept at it. She glanced over towards their audience, smiling at how enraptured the princess and Twilight's family were at her performance. Her father watched with obvious pride and her mother kept dabbing at her eyes to wipe away her tears of joy. The palace guard sitting next to them smiled as he watched her, the mischievous gleam in his eyes telling her that there would be some good-natured ribbing forthcoming towards a certain little sister.

But by far, the most surprising reaction was from Celestia, herself. A wistful little smile graced her lips, while a small tear traced its way down a cheek. She could tell she was listening, but it looked like her mind was a million miles away, perhaps thinking of somepony in the past. So moved at this unexpected reaction by her idol, Octavia did miss a note, but was thankfully, able to cover it up.

The song came to an end, and Twilight opened her eyes, wondering how she had gotten so far from her original position next to the piano. Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud clapping of her four-pony audience, so she bowed low at the waist. Before she could straighten up again, she was mobbed by her parents, who both had her firmly in a group hug that was as inescapable as it was comfortable. Shining sauntered over and ruffled her mane, the only part of her he could get at. “Way to go, Book Fort. You keep adding skills to your repertoire like this, and you'll finally catch up to me.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Pony, please; I've already surpassed you in so many things. It's only a matter of time before I overtake you in what's left.”

“I'm very proud of you, Twilight,” Celestia said with a grin. “You have gained considerable proficiency within a scant, few months, and with an instrument with which many struggle to learn. I think that it's time that you finally learn how to construct your own spells. With a foundation in music like this combined with all you have already learned, I believe it won't be long before you are designing spells that ponies will be using for many generations to come.”

Night Light and Twilight Velvet shared a nervous glance, but said nothing to the princess. Instead, they looked to Octavia, who was putting her sheet music away and closing up the piano. “Thank you so much for all your hard work. If you ever need any help from either of us, please, don't hesitate to ask,” Velvet said, beaming at the young mare.

“Oh, it was a pleasure, Milady,” Octavia replied with a bow. “Twilight is very talented. Had she not shown a greater aptitude for magic, I would be lamenting her loss to the music world. It has been a joy to have her as my first pupil. I hope that all others I teach in future are as attentive and dedicated.”

Looking at his watch, Night Light said, “Oh! We'd better get going if we're going to make our reservations at the restaurant. Are you sure we cannot convince either of you to come with us, Princess? Octavia?”

Octavia gave a sad smile and shook her head. “I am afraid not, Milord. I have a previous commitment which would be inadvisable to miss.”

Celestia smiled down at the stallion. “I believe I shall avail myself of your kind offer, but I will join you momentarily. I have a small bit of business which requires my attention first.”

With a low bow, Velvet replied, “Then, by your leave, Your Highness,” before backing out, hustling her family along.

The monarch walked over to Octavia, a placid smile on her face. “I must say that I am impressed. I had considered using one of the many professional tutors here in Canterlot, but somepony convinced me to give her the benefit of a fresher perspective. I'm glad I heeded that advice, now.”

Octavia bowed low. “As I said previously, it was both a pleasure and an honor, Your Highness. I feel that there would be more teachers if students were more like Lady Sparkle.”

“Nevertheless, you performed admirably, Miss Melody,” Celestia replied, taking out an envelope sealed with a dollop of wax bearing the Royal Seal. “I can honestly say that you've earned this bonus; a glowing letter of recommendation for whatever school you wish to attend, as well as a Royal Marker refundable at any bank for a sum of two thousand bits.”

The cellist was overwhelmed, and almost refused to take the envelope. “Oh, Princess! That's far too generous! Just the letter is more than I could have ever hoped for!”

Celestia still held the envelope out, but quirked an eyebrow at her. “You wouldn't be so gauche as to refuse a gift freely given, would you?”

“Of course not, Princess!” Octavia hastily replied, bowing once more. “It's just that I didn't really do anything special. Any moderately talented pony could have done what I did.”

“You performed a service to the crown above and beyond what was expected, and I feel that your execution is only poorly compensated with this reward.” Celestia smiled at the top of her head, which was the only part of her she could see aside from her back as the earth pony held her bow. She took hold her her chin and pulled her upright once more, placing the envelope in her weak and shaking hand. “As for your last statement, speaking as a 'moderately talented pony', I know that I would not have gotten results half this efficacious had I done it myself.”

Octavia gaped like a landed fish. “But Your Highness, I have got a record of you performing at the Canterlot Philharmonic in twenty-three! Your skill on the harp was just incredible!”

Celestia caressed the smaller earth pony's cheek, causing her to blush, even as she leaned slightly into the soft, but firm hand. “You're very kind, but I have always been a mediocre player, at best. And while I could have taught her myself, I know that it is always better to have an expert in a field teach, than somepony who looks at it as more of a hobby.”

Octavia was struck speechless at the level of familiarity from her idol, to say nothing of her admitting to being less than the very image of perfection she projected. “I...”

“I hope I haven't disappointed you too badly, My Little Pony.” She kissed the cellist's forehead and patted her on the shoulder before leaving a stunned Octavia behind.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

The very next day found Twilight trying her best to mingle among Octavia and Vinyl's friends. It wasn't that they weren't friendly towards her, but for one reason or another, she just never really “clicked” with them. Of course, they were all civil towards her, and she them, but she had always considered them to be “their friends” rather than her own.

Case in point, Spotlight, the filly with whom Twilight was currently conversing at the kitchen counter in Vinyl's apartment. She was currently in the middle of telling Twilight and Callback about an incident that had occurred in school not two days ago. “So I says to Maple, I says-”

“Excuse me Spotlight, but I need to borrow Twilight for a bit, before she has to go back home” Vinyl said with a smile. She grabbed Twilight's arm and practically dragged her away from the pair and towards her bedroom.

Spotlight shrugged and decided to continue with her story to her coltfriend as if nothing had happened. “So I says to Maple, I says...”

Twilight breathed a huge sigh of relief as the bedroom door was closed. “Thank you for the rescue. I was sure that my brain was about to commit suicide by hanging itself from my spinal cord in another minute.” She looked around, finally noticing where they stood, and blushed. Right there was the bed that she was sure that they shared, and it was still messy, as if they had just awoken, or perhaps taken a short breather between rounds. “Erm, not to sound ungrateful at the rescue, but why did you feel the need to drag me in here of all places?”

Walking in from the balcony, Octavia replied, “I assure you, your chastity is safe, Twilight. There is just a serious matter we needed to discuss with you before... before.”

Disturbed at her reticence, Twilight leaned against a dresser covered in clothes both clean and dirty as well as paraphernalia ubiquitous to clubbers and musicians everywhere. “W- what is it?”

Vinyl looked weirdly nervous, even going so far as to scratch her head as if unsure of what to do with her hands. “Er, well, you- you see...”

“What she is trying to say is that the three of us are going to be separated for a long time when we graduate next month, and we are more than a bit worried about you,” Octavia said, surprised at her fillyfriend's uncharacteristic hesitation. “That incident with the bully lead us to believe that you will withdraw further into your shell, especially since you will no doubt be pursuing higher education, increasing the opportunities for further incidents like that.” She clasped Twilight's hand in both of her own. “That would be a shame were it to happen. The world would be a far sadder place without your smile, Twilight.”

Vinyl playfully punched the unicorn in the shoulder. “Yeah. Without us around to beat up the bullies for you, we're worried you won't even bother trying to make friends.”

Octavia gently squeezed the hand in her grasp. “Please, don't let that happen, Twilight. Even if you never make a connection with them, at least try to make some friends. They will help with the loneliness and will even watch out for... unpleasantness like that.”

Stunned, Twilight replied, “I- I- I'll try.” They talked for a bit longer after that about nothing really of consequence, Twilight wanting to say so much more, but lacking the courage and ability to articulate her feelings into actual words.

After she had left, Octavia and Vinyl remained in the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, but facing different directions, neither one wanting to look the other in the eye. After a long moment of silence, Vinyl managed to croak out the question that had been weighing so heavily on her mind. “Are we really going to do this?”

Octavia was having difficulty getting past the lump in her throat, but finally was able to get out a weak, “Yes.” Swallowing hard, she repeated herself, this time more clearly. “Yes. You know as well as I do that a relationship over that sort of distance is all but impossible to hold together. We shall practically be on opposite sides of the continent, Vinyl. We shall be lucky if we could get together once or twice a year, and letters will take weeks to cross the distance. Add on to that the sort of focus we shall need to make the most of our educations so that money will not be wasted, and it is plain that our relationship will at best have to be put on hold, if not outright ended.” She chanced a glance over at her fillyfriend, but could not bear to look at her miserable expression for too long. “It... it is not like I like this any better than you.”

“I know.”

Silence reined for many minutes as Vinyl's hand blindly sought out Octavia's. The simple contact felt like a lifeline to the ponies who felt like they were adrift an ocean of their own misery. “I know,” Vinyl repeated much quieter, squeezing the gray hand in her grasp almost painfully tight. “Of all the things to come between us, I never imagined that this would be the one that ends it.”

“It's not-” Octavia checked herself at her own words, realizing that what she was about to say would have been an outright lie. “Nor did I,” she finished lamely. She sniffled and wiped at her nose with the sleeve of her free hand. “You were always saying how uptight I am. Look at this as an opportunity to find someone more your speed; somepony with whom you can party, and will not correct your atrocious grammar, or make you clean up your apartment.”

Vinyl offered her a weak smile that went unnoticed as still neither were looking at one another. “And you can finally find a pony who doesn't drive you up the wall with her sloppiness, or draw little dicks and boobs on your sheet music, or leave a leaky glowstick in your cello case.”

Octavia finally managed a genuine, if brief chuckle. “I never could get that mess out of there. It still glows in the dark.”

Finally able to face her again, Vinyl gazed at Octavia's profile until she turned to meet her gaze. “I'll never find another like you," she whispered, her voice full of conflicting emotions.

Octavia's free hand suddenly found itself cupping Vinyl's pale cheek, followed shortly after with her lips pressed tight against Vinyl's, their tongues wrestling one another with mad need. When they broke apart, they rested their foreheads together as tears silently spilled down their cheeks.

Author's Note

Sorry this one came so late. Work has been odd of late, giving me weird hours to which I'm still adjusting. I haven't abandoned writing, and if I ever do decide to stop, I'll be sure to let you all know. I hope you like this one, because the next chapter entails a time jump. How far, you ask? You'll have to wait and see.