Hypnotic melody

Vinyl trotted through the streets of Canterlot, she had just finished her set and was heading home. As she went she couldn't help but keep the smile off her face, it had been six weeks since she had gotten Octavia out of that goddess damn orchestra, and the gray mare seemed all the better for it. Despite the obvious control Vinyl had seen Octavia smile more in the past month than she had in the past two years, all in all, Vinyl had to admit that things had turned out alright.
Vinyl entered the ground floor to the apartment building, everything was just like it was every other day. Coming to the door to their apartment Vinyl couldn't help but shake the feeling that something was off, but she couldn’t place her hoof on it. The moment she opened the door she knew something was definitely wrong, there was music coming from inside the apartment, but it wasn’t Vinyl’s music nor was it anything from a disc, it was cello music being played by an extremely talented pony.

Vinyl’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks, she had several reasons to be worried at this point;
One, Tavi never before played at home, even when she was in the orchestra.
Two, she also had yet to even listen to classical in the past six weeks.

As quietly as she could Vinyl closed the door and made her way deeper into the apartment, there in the living room facing the full wall window was Octavia as she stood playing her cello. If she noticed Vinyl she didn’t make any indication of it, slowly Vinyl approached.

“Hello, Vinyl,” Octavia said without even looking.

“H-hey Tavi, workin’ the old bass?”

“Oh yes, I was rather afraid I had gotten out of practice over the past six weeks, but I guess when you're naturally talented at something it just stays with you.”

“Ya, I know how that goes, I could go for weeks without playing and jump right back onto the tables and be as good as ever.”

While Vinyl sounded confident and carefree, she was anything but.

Oh horseapples, six weeks? How much does she know? How long has she been off the beats?

“Is something the matter? Normally you're trying to get your hooves all over me once you get home.”

Oh not good. “Naw, just extra tired, we had a really rowdy crowd tonight, we must be bringing in ponies from all over, might need to invest in more security and bouncers.” Vinyl said casually.

“Even so, I’ve seen you walk in the door practically asleep and be more touchy than this.”

Octavia had turned and was looking right a Vinyl, both mares seemed as if they intended to star at each other the rest of the night.

“Are you sure there isn’t something you want to tell me Vinyl? Like why I quit the orchestra six weeks ago?” Octavia was on all four now stalking up to a rather nervous Vinyl, she might have been a unicorn, but to underestimate an angry earth pony was folly itself.

“Or how you’ve been attempting to control me with your music this whole time?”

Oh buck me. “U-um I-I can explain.”

“Oh I’m sure you can, and you will, you manipulative,” Octavia punctuated each word with a hoof to Vinyl's chest. “Conniving, tricking, brilliant, wonderful mare.”

Vinyl did a double-take at the last two. “Huh?”

Without warning, Octavia leaned forward and Kissed Vinyl.

“S-so your, not mad at me?”

“Oh no Vinyl, I’m furious at what you did, I worked for a long time to get into that place.” Slowly she let out a sigh. “But it wasn’t until I was under your ‘control’ and out of there that I actually had a chance to see what I was doing to myself.”

Octavia trotted over to a bookshelf and pulled out what looked like a day planner, she placed it down in front of Vinyl as she started flipping through some of the earlier entries.

“You know I go to the doctors about twice a year right?”

Vinyl nodded, not sure where this was going.

“Well as it turns out, I've been losing weight, a lot in fact since I’ve been playing with the orchestra, though I’ve simply ignored it.”

Octavia pointed to the first entry labeled ‘doctors’, it had a few notes scribbled down, the one she was pointing at was ‘Weight: 250Lb’. Vinyl nodded, that was about average for your typical non-farming earth pony, they always ran heavier than the other tribes thanks to their muscles. Octavia flipped to the next entry and pointed to the same line, this one now read ‘Wight: 238’.

Twenty two pounds in a year, that's not great.

Octavia continued to go through entries until she came to the last one, five months ago.

“I weighed myself the other week, as of right now I’m one hundred and sixty-four pounds, and yes I know that pushing the low end for a pegasus filly.”

Vinyl’s jaw dropped. “T-tavi, I-I had no idea, I mean I could see you weren’t as full as when we moved in, but I didn’t realize it was that bad.”

“Part of it is my coat, we had to keep up appearance for shows after all.”

Ok got me there. “Still, a hundred and sixty-four pounds? How did I not notice in bed all this time, or... wait, hold on. How long have you…”

“Not been under your ‘control’? Fully, about a month but I’ve been mostly aware of everything.”

“I-uhhhh you weren't supposed to be aware. I must have botched the spell somehow.”

“At this point, I hardly think it matters.”

“True… so a month then?” Octavia nodded. “And you mostly remember the two weeks before that?” Again another nod. “So… why are you still here?”

“I was wondering how long it was going to take you ask that, you see shortly after I came off the ‘music’ I guess you could say…”

One month ago.

Octavia looked at herself in the mirror, she didn’t recognize the mare looking back at her. Her mane was disheveled, her fur was a mess and she felt sore in places she should not feel sore. As she looked at herself the blurry memories of the past two weeks coming back to her or as much as she could remember. She remembered quitting the orchestra, neglecting her prized cello as well as the several nights with Vinyl.
Why? What is happening? I’m so confused. I need to get out of here, at least for a little bit. She looked at her fur again. Ugh but first a shower.

As Octavia let the hot water pelt her fur, she tried to get her head sorted. She could remember thoughts and feelings, but they didn’t quite seem like hers, so why didn’t they feel wrong.

“Heeeeeeeeey Tavi, you planning on leaving me out hot stuff?”

Octavia froze at those words. “I-I'm just not feeling very well right now.” It was the truth.
“Aw don’t worry, I can help a little with that.” Without further delay Vinyl jumped in.

“Vinyl wh-I’m…” Octavia didn’t get any farther as she felt Vinyl’s hooves on her back. They began to work her tight muscles, while she used her magic to work the shampoo into her mane. Octavia had to admit it did feel rather good.

“I’ll make us a nice hot breakfast and you’ll be good as new.”

Reluctantly Octavia had to admit that sounded good. Wait, why am I thinking ANY of this is good?

After their shower, breakfast consisted of banana pancakes and warm berries. Octavia had been reluctant at first picking at her food, but Vinyl made it clear that if she didn’t eat her food, then she would feed it to her, one way or another. Octavia didn’t like the sound of that, so she ate and had to admit she did feel much better.

“I’ve got to go out for a while, some stuff to take care of with work, you gonna be ok by yourself?”

What am I a foal? “Yes Vinyl, I’ll be just fine.” Just hurry up and go so I can leave as well.

“Alright, see ya later.” With that Vinyl left.

For a little while, Octavia just sat where she was, trying to get her head sorted out. She’s been controlling me for two weeks, now I have to leave, right? I mean it was nice when she rubbed my back, and she is a rather good cook, but what she has done to me is wrong! It will take me years to get back into the orchestra, much less back to second chair…

Octavia stopped for a moment, she replayed her last train of thought.

Years to get back to second chair.

Was she really going through all this for second fiddle? Octavia cringed at her metaphor, ‘Fiddle’ was such a lowbrow name for a violin. But the argument still stood, she was going to work years to get back to second chair.

I need some air

Octavia had just walked around Canterlot for some time, trying to find some answers among the city. It seems fate was watching.

“Octavia?”

Hearing her name she turned to see who had addressed her.

“Beauty Brass?” Octavia spotted the purple pony with her blue mane.

Beauty trotted up to her friend. “Octavia, where have you been hiding? A few of us were worried after you quit, and then no pony has seen you for weeks, we thought you might have done the same as Harpsichord.”

The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’ place it. “I’m sorry to worry you, um who is Harpsichord?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? She was a cello player as well, left not long before you joined, she.. um… well, she was found dead a few days after she quit.”

Octavia brought a hoof to her mouth with a gasp. “D-dead? Who would do such a thing?”

“No Octavia, no pony hurt her, she did it to herself. Hung herself with her own cello string…”

Octavia could only stare in shock. “A-and when I quit, then seemed to disappear…”

“We thought you had done something drastic as well.”

For a moment Octavia didn’t move, finally, she embraced her friend.

“I’m so sorry for making you fret over me, but I would never consider doing something like that.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Beauty said wiping a tear. “I’m also proud of you for having the courage to leave as well.”

“What do you mean?”

Beauty shuffled her hooves. “It's rumored that the conductor discredits any musician who leaves so they can’t find work, but it’s never been proven.”

Octavia’s eyes went wide, she knew the conductor could be cruel, but she didn’t think he would be downright evil. Before she could say more Beauty glanced over and saw what time it was.

“Oh my, I must really get going or I’ll never get enough practice in tonight. It’s good to see you, Octavia.” And with that Beauty Brass hurried off.

Octavia just stood there, processing all she had been told. Then a single thought crossed her mind. I use to be like that.

Present

“So let me get this straight, that place had driven ponies to kill themselves?”

“In a nutshell, yes.”

Vinyl just sat here a moment, horrified at what that place could do to ponies, and even more glad she had gotten Tavi out of there.

“I came home after that and did a lot of thinking. I think I was finally able to see things how you were because I was seeing things from the outside for the first time.”

Vinyl smiled. “Well, I’m glad you were able to see that, even if it did take you a month to relize-”

“Oh no,” Octavia cut her off. “I realized that in a couple of days.”

Vinyl tilted her head. “So… why are you just bringing this up now?”

“Well, to be honest, I was a little scared and confused at first. I didn’t know what to do, after all getting into the orchestra was my life goal really. I didn’t know what next was, so I decided to contact the one pony I know who had left.”

It took a moment, but Vinyl realized there was only one pony Octavia knew who had left the orchestra, Lyra.

“I send a letter to Lyra, and we’ve been back and forth the past three weeks.” Octavia trotted over and pulled a few letters out of an end table. “Here.”

Vinyl took the letters in her magic, she read the postmarks and opened the oldest one.

Dear Octavia;
I am SO glad to hear from you, and yes I was concerned you had done a Harpsichord on us. But you're out of there, and that's what counts. I am a little surprised Vinyl decided to go that route to get you out of there, but what's done is done.
Now for your question, yes I am still playing. In fact, I am currently in the Manehatten Concert Orchestra, (we just call it MCO, calling it ‘the orchestra’ makes us sounds like that place), and I am loving every minute of it! We play for a lot of things, so we are kept busy, and a lot of us play at some side jobs as ‘practice’. I myself play at a dinner theater a few times a week.
As for Vinyl, I’m not sure. Just approach her? I’m not very good at that part, I’m not the dominant on Errr nevermind. You’ve known her for two years now, just talk to her like you normally would.
Best of luck and don’t be a stranger.
Lyra

Vinyl chuckled inwardly. Bonbon so has your flank. She skimmed the rest of the letters until she came to the last one, after skimming the first part she began to read very intently.

Octavia;
And Vinyl as well since you’ll be reading this too, I gotta be honest I didn’t think you would take a turn like this. But I’m more than happy to hear it, I asked Silver Note our conductor, and I thought he was going to have a heart attack when I mentioned your name and that you wanted to come play for us in the same sentence. Needless to say, you have a place here waiting, you’ll have to ‘interview’ to determine what chair you’ll be, but I have a feeling I know where you’ll land. Even the other cello players are excited to have you join us, I had a few asking if you gave lessons.
Mis Bonbon said she would be happy to help you and Vinyl find a place, she already has a few places in mind be would like to converse with Vinyl first. (She said she would wait until you talked to Vinyl first, so let us know right away)
As always best of luck, your friend,
Lyra.

Vinyl read the letter over again, making sure she had understood everything correctly. She looked up at Octavia, a surprised but happy look on her face.

“Tavi, you want to go to Manehatten?”

“Yes Vinyl, I love playing and I want to keep doing it, but I want to do it in a better place than this. I want to feel alive when I’m playing again, you were right, I was dead before and I realize that now.”

“I’m glad you can see that now, even if it takes some ‘convincing’ on my part.”

Octavia gave Vinyl a stern look. “If by ‘convincing’ you mean ‘hypnotizing’, then yes you did.”

Vinyl rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not going to hear the end of that am I?”

Octavia smirked at Vinyl. “Nope, now you need to write Bonbon and we have some planning to do.”

Vinyl grinned, things had gone rather well, all things considered, there was just one last thing that needed to be taken care of.

Enjoy taking the lead, for now, Tavi, soon I’ll teach you who really tops in this relationship.