Octavia's Violin Classes

"I assume you couldn't get the Black Star violin." Octavia watched as Mr. Kurenai stumbled out of the auction, rubbing his head.

"I even bid two million bits on it, but Yuri and Jiro managed to win after knocking me out," the teacher explained.

"Well, we're going to need it back," said Octavia. "While you were there, my friend Vinyl and I met a pony who could help. But we have to give him the Black Star. If we do, that fangire will stop targeting musicians."

"And why should we trust this random pony?"

"If we don't, the fangire might attack Ms. Aso, now that she has the violin."

Mr. Kurenai jumped up and began galloping. "Okay, let's go get the Black Star!" he exclaimed, with Octavia quickly following him.

After a few minutes of running randomly around Canterlot, they began to hear the screech of a string instrument. "That sounds like Yuri," Mr. Kurenai commented, running toward the harsh sound.

Octavia's ears bent down in an effort to stop hearing the noise. "Are you sure?" Her teacher nodded, stopping at the edge of the park near a lake. There were a couple of benches placed alongside a hedge here. On the far edge of one bench sat Jiro, a slight grimace on his face as he tried to cover his ears. Near the other bench, Yuri Aso was attempting to play a jet-black violin, oblivious of the annoyed ponies around her.

"Stop." When Yuri didn't listen, Otoya repeated the word a bit louder. "Stop! That violin is screaming right now." He moved his front hoof to indicate that she had to give the violin to him.

She reluctantly stopped, but without letting go of the instrument. "Why are you acting so serious over a violin? We got the violin fair and square. Now leave."

"Ms. Aso, the monster will attack anyone who can't play the Black Star properly," Octavia told the mare. "And, no offence, but you could use a lot of practice."

"Octavia, there's no need to worry," Ms. Aso reassured the filly. "I've fought against many fangires before."

Jiro nodded in agreement. "With Yuri and I working together, the fangire will be shattered within minutes."

Octavia gulped as she tried to think of how to phrase her next sentence. "But what if, I mean, perhaps the fangire will stop if we just give him the violin."

"You really think any of those monsters can just be befriended, foal?" The unicorn questioned.

Octavia's mouth opened to speak, then closed again. She couldn't help but glare at him.

Jiro shoved Otoya to the side as he walked away. "Let's leave, Yuri." Yuri packed the Black Star and followed him.

They didn't leave too far, however, as a red and green stained-glass monster appeared from behind the hedge and blocked their path. This one had lime green projectiles that shot from its front legs.

"Fangire!" Yuri pulled out her whip.

"Don't worry, Yuri!" Otoya yelled, running into the fangire. However, the monster picked him up and threw him into the lake.

Octavia scrambled out of the fight scene, and toward the lake. "Mr. Kurenai?"

The violin teacher's hooves were flailing as he screamed like a foal. "Help! I can't swim!"

"Duck!"

Octavia ducked just in time for a yellow duck-shaped life preserver to fly over her head and land on the water in front of Otoya. She followed the rope attached to the life preserver to find a familiar filly.

"Vinyl! Where's the violin owner?"

"Hey, I tried to bring him with me, but he couldn't stand getting close to any loud sounds without going berserk," Vinyl shrugged, nodding toward the fangire behind her. "But at least I got everything we need, so it's all under control." She opened the saddlebag she brought with her, which was filled with random toys and a pair of headphones. Octavia's violin case stuck out of the opposite saddlebag.

However, the sound of the fangire shooting Yuri and Jiro caught Octavia's attention. Despite getting injured, Yuri deflected the attacks with her whip, giving the few bystanders nearby time to escape. Jiro tackled the fangire and chased him to an emptier edge of the park. Behind Octavia, her teacher had managed to get out of the lake and was heading toward the fight. "What do we do now?" she asked her friend.

"I'll get the violin. See if you and the crazy violinist can calm the fangire down," suggested Vinyl, throwing her saddlebag back onto her flank and running to the bench.

Octavia nodded and galloped closer to the secluded edge of the lake. She skidded to a halt behind a nearby bush. In front of her, Jiro transformed into a vicious werewolf.

"He's a monster," a voice gasped.

Octavia noticed the sound coming from the bush she was hiding behind. "Mr. Kurenai?"

A messy brown mane poked out from the mess of leaves and twigs. "Who would have known he was a werewolf?"

"I told you. Now, how do we calm down the fangire?" Octavia thought aloud as the werewolf clawed at his opponent. The fangire leaped into the lake to escape. Jiro growled angrily, returning to his pony form.

Yuri caught up soon after, limping slightly on her injured hoof. "Jiro, where's the fangire?"

"He escaped," he muttered.

Yuri glared at the Otoya as he brushed some leaves off of his face. "The Black Star is missing too."

"I don't have it!" Otoya defended himself.

Vinyl ran toward the group, dragging a large black violin case behind her with a big smile. "I got it!"

Otoya and Octavia exchanged glances, looking at the unicorn filly, then to the fangire hunter.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

Octavia looked at Vinyl while pointing her head slightly to Yuri.

"Oh." Vinyl casually handed the violin case to the mare. "Here you go."

"Thanks. The integrity is appreciated," Yuri told the filly.

Vinyl grinned again. "Come on Tavi."

Octavia turned to Yuri before leaving. "Are you sure you won't get attacked by the fangire again, Ms. Aso?"

"I'll be fine," she reassured the filly. "You should be more concerned about your own well-being. The fangires are dangerous, and it's better if you try not to get involved."

"But--"

"Tavi, quick!"

"Coming!" she called, galloping to catch up to her friend. Mr. Kurenai and the fangire--now calmer and his pony form--were with her.

"Too bad we couldn't get the violin. Sorry," Octavia apologized.

The fangire shook his head. "It was my fault. I couldn't control myself from becoming my fangire form."

"Hey! Who said we didn't have the violin?" said Vinyl, levitating Octavia's violin case and opening it in front of her friend. Inside it was a jet-black violin and matching bow.

Mr. Kurenai's eyes widened. "Wait, if the Black Star is here, then--"

"I'll explain later. We better hurry home."

* * *

"Let's hope Otoya doesn't bother us anymore," said Yuri Aso. She picked up the case with her injured hoof, wincing slightly.

"Let me pick it up," Jiro offered, reaching for the violin case.

"It's fine, I got it," she reassured him, pulling the case back. The case slipped out of her hooves and opened. Inside, instead of a violin, were the contents of a typical colt or filly's toy box: tennis balls, dolls, wooden building blocks, and even a Rubik's cube.

"Looks liked it got switched," Jiro commented. "Just what are those ponies thinking?"

* * *

After adjusting the new string on Octavia's violin, the fangire gave the instrument back to the filly. "It should be fixed now. Luckily, the damage to the violin wasn't too serious."

"Thank you very much!" Octavia smiled as she received the violin, beginning to play a few notes. Otoya picked up his own violin and joined in, creating a melodious tune. Vinyl sat nearby, silently holding up a recording device. The fangire pony relaxed. For once, he was completely peaceful.

Then Octavia stopped. "Wait, you need the Black Star back."

The fangire shook his head. "I think I have finally found someone worthy of keeping it." He picked up the Black Star and offered it to Otoya."Never before have I felt such calmness from hearing another pony play any instrument," he explained. "I could practically survive on nothing but that melody."

The violin teacher was quiet for a moment. "This violin is one of the best that I have ever seen, but it is just not meant for me," he replied. "I'm sorry."

The fangire nodded his head in return, picked up the Black Star, and began to leave.

"Hang on, you can't just leave!" Mr. Kurenai called.

"We can't let a fangire run out to hurt more ponies," Octavia chimed in.

"After hearing your teacher play, I won't have to hurt anypony," the fangire insisted. "I really could survive the rest of my life with just his music."

"Promise?"

The fangire nodded earnestly.

Vinyl pulled the headphones out of her saddlebag. After attaching the headphones to the recording device, she pressed the 'play' button and gave it to the fangire. "This should help," she commented. The fangire held the strange device in his hooves for a moment before putting the headphones on his ears. A smile spread on his face as he closed his eyes and listened to the recording of Otoya's music, then walked out of the house.

"I think we've successfully reformed a monster today," Octavia told Vinyl and Mr. Kurenai after the fangire left.

"Someone better let those monster hunters know," added Vinyl.

"I'll do it!" Mr. Kurenai volunteered. "Anything to see Yuri again before the day is over."