The Music That Binds Usby Dreams of PoniesChaptersFortissimoCapriccioIntermezzoEspressivoConcertoFortissimoThe pounding wouldn't stop. Every thump, every thud, never ceasing. At this point, her headache was throbbing with the beat, her internal biology betraying her distaste as she scowled up at the stage. "I don't know how you can even stand this, Vinyl. Even if this music was palatable, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it while it's being shoved down my throat!" Vinyl Scratch swiveled her bar chair to face Octavia, a wide grin plastered underneath her bobbing muzzle. "Aw, come on, Tavi," Vinyl pleaded. "I know this music isn't really your thing, but hey, how often do you get invited to perform in the newest club in Canterlot?" Octavia shook her head, each motion falling in time with the downbeat. "Never, Vinyl. You were the one invited, remember? I'm still confused as to how I got here..." "Because it's my big day? Because you like watching me work my magic?" Vinyl tilted her head slightly, her tinted glasses sliding down just a bit to reveal those amazing magenta eyes. "Because I know how to tune your cello?" Octavia shoved a hoof against Vinyl, her cheeks puffing out as she glared at her friend. Sighing heavily, she managed to smile, even with the constant bass rattling her bones. "I do admit that you can be very... animated... at times, and that smirk you get when you really get into it is just adorable." Vinyl grinned as she hopped off her stool, levitated a small glass over, and finished it with one gulp. "Hey babe, as much as I like hearing how cool I am, it's time for The Scratch to take the stage." Octavia stifled a small laugh, watching as Vinyl trotted towards the stage. The pony behind the turntables nodded his head to the beat, his horn not only working the equipment, but also providing a bit of a light show. As she watched the small display of orange and red fireworks die down, the song coming to the end, Octavia saw a white pegasus dive from backstage, grabbing a microphone that hung from the ceiling. "Everypony give a big cheer for Fret Note! That was wicked, Fret!" The crowd between Octavia and the stage roared their agreement. Fret Note gave a wave and a quick bow before taking his leave. Vinyl approached from offstage, giving Fret Note a hoof-bump as she passed him. "Now introducing The Queen of Wubs, The Master of Mixing herself, Vinyl Scratch!" Vinyl walked coolly up to the equipment, tracing it casually in her magic. She closed her eyes and smiled as she got a feel for the setup. She did this every time before she played, and Octavia always enjoyed watching her typically boisterous friend become perfectly calm, as if she were about to conduct a symphony. Vinyl flipped a record in the air, giving it a moment to spin, before it fell onto the table. Then the music started. Octavia hadn't even noticed its absence until that moment, her residual headache still keeping time with a muted melody. It started off low enough, as it usually did, until it picked up in both volume and tempo. A second record was added, and with the mixing of melodies and bass, the crowd exploded once more. Octavia grimaced at the cacophony of hooves, stereo, screams and whistles, watching Vinyl as she moved in time with the beat. When Vinyl got into the groove, she would sometime spin and hoof-bump the air with a confident smirk. A small smile crossed Octavia's face, even as her ears drooped a bit. She had tried, on several occasions, to learn to enjoy the genres of music that Vinyl was enthralled by, but to no avail. "It's just... not my cup of tea, Vinyl." Even so, she had come along to the opening of the Bass Palace. Vinyl knew just how to pluck Octavia's strings, and in the end, had worn down her resolve. All that was left was to endure a bit longer, just until Vinyl was done, and then they'd be off to a particularly exquisite restaurant in the city — the carrot that Vinyl had used to get her here. Octavia caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye and found a drink had been set in front of her. She eyed the small glass of liquid bronze, a silver-coated earth pony behind the bar giving her a knowing smile. "Headache now or headache later?" "That's not quite my cup of tea either... but I appreciate the thought, Mr... " "Just call me Winnisiegh, everypony does," he said with a chuckle. "Octavia Melody." The liquid inside the small glass still warbled around, almost taunting her. "Never partook, Ms. Octavia?" "I don't like the idea of giving up control of my decisions." "It's not like that, darling." Winniseigh chuckled as he poured a second drink, holding it up gingerly for her to see. "Rather, it douses the fire in our mind and lets us just be in the moment." Octavia scooped up the drink with her fetlock and gave it a little swish. A small smile crept onto Octavia's face as she raised it to Winnisiegh. "Will it let me enjoy Vinyl's music?" The stallion smiled and nodded, his eyes darting to the stage, then back to Octavia. "To the Princesses, I suppose." Octavia smiled as the stallion raised his own glass to meet hers and echoed her sentiment. The next hour passed a little faster after that, and Octavia lost track of exactly how many drinks she'd had. The pounding in her head had receded somewhat, and she was observing Vinyl's performance with a silly smile. "Wooo! Go, Vinyl!" Her hooves went wide as she waved them enthusiastically, nearly tipping off her bar stool in the process. After an instant of peril, Octavia righted herself, giggling all the while. She looked up in time to catch Vinyl's stare, and though dark glasses obscured Vinyl's eyes, her dropped jaw still clued Octavia in to where she was looking. The music wound down, Octavia's hoof tapping to the diminishing beat as it faded into nothing. Getting up, she gave a small bow to Winnisiegh, who laughed and waved her off. She made her way to the stage, staggering between the jumbling herd of ponies, until she was front and center. "Octavia?" 'Yes, Vinyl, that's my name." "Oh, sweet Celestia, you're drunk." "What? No..." Octavia gave an adorable hiccup, her cheeks tinting red. "Okay, maybe a little." "I've still got one more song, but maybe we should get you home, filly." "Oh, no, you're not gonna leave all these ponies hanging, and then blame me for it in the morning!" The ponies listening in nodded their agreement, and some started stomping their hooves in protest. "One more song! One more song!" yelled the voices in near-unison. Octavia took that moment to trot to the side, albeit with some difficulty, and make her way up onto the stage. She swayed her hips, either for balance or for some other effect as she approached Vinyl. She got extremely close, and then whispered into Vinyl's ear. "One more song, Ms. Scratch, if you would." Then she licked from the top of Vinyl's neck, all the way to the tip of her ear. Vinyl shivered involuntarily, her muzzle actually twitching as she nearly stumbled back to her equipment. One final moment of calm permeated the stage as Vinyl's mind was surely screaming with exploding fireworks. "If you insist, filly." The last song went by in a blur as Vinyl moved with renewed vigor, the crowd jumping and stomping along with the music. Octavia found herself caught up in their enthusiasm as she danced in her own way. Her half-twirls and saunters went perfectly from her perspective, though in actuality, probably appeared rather comedic. Nopony laughed, though, maybe because she just seemed so into it. The music crescendoed with its grand finale, and Octavia's inhibition was finally lost to the storm of music and liquid courage. She turned and galloped to the end of the stage, and then jumped out with her hooves outstretched, as if trying to fly across the room. The herd of ponies beneath her, surprised by her sudden attempt to grow wings, scattered like insects. Thump "Octy... Octy! Octavia!!!" Author's Note Big thanks to all my prereaders, y'all know who you are, for giving this story a good look through. I have all but the last chapter written for this story, and should be finishing that today, so I'll be publishing a chapter every day or so. It's not a long story, but I wanted to make sure it was nice and tied up before I started publishing. As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies Capriccio"Octavia? Wake up, Octy." The grey mare stirred slightly, struggling to pull herself from the dark embrace of sleep. Slowly, she opened her violet eyes and peered up at Vinyl. The stark white hospital room came into existence around her terribly worried friend, the early morning sun peering through her window. "Vinyl? Wha-what happened?" She raised a hoof to her head, groaning as it rubbed against the thick bandages that wrapped around it. "Redheart said you're suffering from an 'MTBI', but all I know is that when you tried to stage-dive, you whacked your head pretty hard." "That's a mild traumatic brain injury, Vinyl... And I tried to do a what!?" "I didn't even know that you drank, Octavia. We've been together for a while, and I've never seen you have so much as an apple cider." Octavia's face scrunched in anguish as she pulled herself into a sitting position. "I don't drink, Vinyl. At least, I hadn't until last night..." Her face reddened as Vinyl's worried expression eased just a tad. "Is my music so bad that you need to get hammered to enjoy it?" Vinyl managed to crack a smile, but her eyes didn't quite meet Octavia's. Octavia sputtered, looking up at Vinyl with a half-formed excuse already on her lips. It faltered, however, when she saw the defeated look on her roommate's face. "Vinyl... " she started to say. Vinyl shook her head, stopping Octavia with a hoof. "No, Octavia. I'm sorry for pushing you to go." Vinyl forced a soft smile to her lips. "I know my music isn't really your thing, but I love spending time with you, and... no, I'm sorry regardless." "I appreciate the sentiment, Vinyl, really." Octavia smiled at the forlorn unicorn, her hoof moving to brush through Vinyl's mane. "You still owe me that dinner, though, Ms. 'Queen of Wubs'." "I owe you more than that, filly." Vinyl pulled away and moved towards the hospital door, turning her head just after she turned the knob. "You rest up. I'll be back later and we'll go out, just me, you, and the classiest joint in the city." "Alright, Vinyl. Just don't do anything — " Whatever she had said next went unheard as Vinyl shut the door, cantering off towards the front exit. The entire train ride home, Vinyl sat frowning as she peered out the window, her headphones resting beside her. A minute or so later, Ponyville came into view, the large crystal tower visible high above the town. "I hope she's not off on some friendship quest or something," Vinyl said, closing her eyes. The train arrived soon after, the whistle blowing as ponies departed. Vinyl made her way through the center of town, her sights set on Princess Twilight's castle. Many ponies waved at her as she passed, and by the time she'd arrived at the crystal castle, she had a smile spread across her lips. "I love Ponyville." She raised a hoof and knocked it against the heavy door. A minute passed and she knocked again, her hoof tapping as she stared up at the enormous door. "She better be here. I have a real friendship problem here, and it's way more important than some bugbear attack." Vinyl straightened when hoofsteps came from the other side. A unicorn popped her head out at Vinyl, her purple and toothpaste-streaked mane following her a moment later. "Can I help you?" she asked, blinking at Vinyl. "Um, yes. Is Princess Twilight here? I have a bit of a friendship problem." "Ah, Twilight's off helping Rarity with something fashiony." She pushed the door open and waved Vinyl inside. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, her personal student. Why don't you come in and sit while we wait for her?" Vinyl nodded, following after her. The door swung magically closed behind her as they moved inside the crystal castle. The pair of ponies passed through a door-ridden hallway, taking a right to another set of large doors that opened into a grand library. Vinyl gave a low whistle as she scanned the columns of literature. "That's a lot of books." "Well, yeah," Starlight said, waving a hoof. "Given that Twilight's the Element of Magic, and was even Celestia's prized pupil at one time, I'm surprised we don't have more books." They shared a laugh as they settled down onto a pair of plump purple cushions. "Now, tell me about your friendship problem." "Oh, well... I was gonna wait for Twilight..." Starlight's smile faltered slightly, seemingly deep in thought for a moment. "Twilight wants me to be more active in helping ponies. Please give me a chance..." She finished it off with a slightly pouty look, her bottom lip quivering slightly. "Fine!" Vinyl said, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "That was pretty good, by the way." "Thanks," Starlight said, her smile returning. "I learned it from Rarity, it's surprisingly effective at times." Vinyl raised an eyebrow, but decided to move on. "Well, basically, Octavia and I have been friends for a good while now. More than friends really..." "Uh-huh," Starlight murmured, conjuring a quill and paper from the aether. The scratching against the paper actually made a decent rhythm, which Vinyl noted for later. "We've always had very different tastes in music, and while I've gone to most of her concerts, and vise-versa, we haven't managed to change that." "I see..." Starlight said, a pair of glasses magically appearing on her muzzle. "And you live together, do you not?" "Yeah, we moved in together about a year ago." "Then how do you put up with the difference in music at home?" "Well, I have my headphones," Vinyl replied, pulling them from a small saddlebag on her side. "I just plug 'em in and she can't even hear it." The sound of gears turning in Vinyl's mind was nearly audible, then she jumped up, her eyes wide. "Wait... I think I just had the sweetest idea ever!" Then she jumped forward and hugged a startled Starlight. "You're a genius at this, just so you know." Starlight blushed, waving the compliment off with a hoof. "I've got a good teacher." An hour later, they'd had it worked out. Vinyl trotted out of Twilight's castle, a happy grin on her face. She made a quick beat across town and within a few minutes had arrived at her next destination. Vinyl stood outside Carousel Boutique, catching her breath just as she opened the door. Before her stood a rather strange sight: Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Fluttershy, all whom she knew in passing, were bickering back and forth like the world would soon end. Poor Fluttershy stood between the bickering mares, dressed in what looked like a floral costume of some exotic plant. "That red is just too garish, Twilight. It makes my eyes want to scream in protest," Rarity proclaimed, her hoof covering her eyes dramatically. "It's the most technically accurate color, Rarity. Offensive or not, it'd be wrong to be any other color." Twilight shook her head in exasperation. "This play needs to be historically accurate as possible." Poor Fluttershy just shifted her hooves slightly before she noticed Vinyl's entrance. She smiled apologetically before coughing into her hoof. Twilight and Rarity stopped as Fluttershy gestured forward at Vinyl, their eyes widening in acknowledgement that their conversation was no longer private. "Oh, um, sorry about that, darling." Rarity stepped forward, a small blush easily spotted on her snow-white fur. "Please excuse our little debate. Now, how can I help you?" "I need a little bit of work done for a close friend of mine." "How close?" Rarity asked, a sly smile sneaking onto her features. "As close as two ponies can be," Vinyl replied, blushing slightly. "Sometimes it feels like we're perfect for each other, and other times, we seem to bicker like foals." "That's not unusual," Twilight said, flashing Rarity a smile. "Even the best of friends will have their differences." "Twilight is absolutely correct, Ms. Scratch. Now... can I inquire as to the specifics of your request?" Rarity asked. Vinyl ran a hoof through her electric-blue mane before levitating something out of her saddlebags. "Starlight sent me here," Vinyl said, beaming at Twilight. "She already worked the magic out and everything, I just need a few, err, fashionable touches." "Of course, darling," Rarity replied. "She's a good student," Twilight said with a proud smile. "She's got a good teacher," Vinyl and Rarity said in unison, making Twilight blush. Author's Note Hey ponies, hope you're enjoying the story! I've just about finalized the last chapter, just gotta get it read over at some point. Otherwise, I think I'll release a chapter a day 'til it's over. As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated! With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies IntermezzoThe hospital was probably the least exciting place Octavia had ever had the misfortune of being in, and yes, that included the club from last night. At this point, she might have even gone back willingly, head-wrappings and all, just to kill the mundane atmosphere that permeated the halls of the Canterlot hospital. "I wish I had my cello. At least then I could practice a bit," Octavia said, looking up at the television screen mounted to the wall. She had the volume muted, the droll dialog actually worse than the silence. Instead, she made up speeches for the characters, creating her own little story for them. It was a drastic improvement indeed. "I'm sorry, darling, but there's just no money for the surgery," Octavia said, trying to imitate the voice of an older stallion. "But.. What about Crimson? He won't survive without the operation." She settled on a mid alto for the mother, smiling at her own creation. "We'll have to amputate the wing if you don't have the bits by week's end," the voice of the doctor responded. "Isn't there something you can do?" Octavia pleaded, her feminine alter-ego taking the stage once more. "Of course there's something we can do," a familiar voice called from the side, making Octavia give a little squeak of surprise. Vinyl stood at the doorway, sporting a broad grin. "Glad to see that you're having a good time without me." Octavia rolled her eyes as she turned the television off with a remote. "It's been dreadful, Vinyl. Can you check to see when I can leave?" Vinyl waved a hoof, her grin growing wider. "They're coming in a couple minutes to remove the bandages, they just needed somepony to escort you out of the hospital." Then she winked, took her glasses off and gave a totally-not-subtle wink at Octavia. "And it turns out, the lucky pony that gets to take you home is me." "As if I'm some prize you've won?" Octavia said with a laugh. "You're a prize, alright, Tavi." Vinyl slipped her glasses back on and started backing out of her room. "And I'm the luckiest mare in the world." Octavia's cheeks burned fiercely as Vinyl left, presumably to go get the doctors. She honestly did feel better after the doctor had worked his magic, and if Vinyl was still willing, she was looking forward to eating something other than the terrible hospital food. In the next hour, they'd removed her bandages, finished all the paperwork and wished Octavia farewell as the couple exited the facility. Vinyl trotted next to her, humming a little tune to herself as they walked to the evening streets of Canterlot. "You seem rather cheerful, Vinyl. Did something happen?" Vinyl nearly stumbled, blushing afterwards as she sheepishly met Octavia's eyes. "It's a surprise, alright?" "Fine, fine, but you know I'm going to pull it out of you over dinner, right?" Vinyl stopped in place, giving Octavia an apologetic smile. "So... unfortunately, the reservations were for yesterday, and I doubt they'd let me change them." Octavia's head dropped a little, but then perked back up. "Since we're in Canterlot, why don't we revisit our former trotting grounds?" "The old diner?" Vinyl raised an eyebrow, but then smiled warmly. "Great idea, glad I thought of it!" Her totally amazing joke was met with a roll of Octavia's eyes and a firm sock to the shoulder. At least the walk was pleasant. Orange sunlight peered just over the small residential buildings as their hooves guided them along a familiar path. The cool wind swept peacefully past Octavia and Vinyl, moving the autumn leaves in a wistful dance. "There it is!" Octavia pointed with a hoof. "I know... I can see it, too." Vinyl gave her a teasing nudge with her hoof. They walked up to the old-fashioned diner, Vinyl trotting ahead to pull the door open with a hoof, Octavia giving her a small smile. She could have used her magic, but this felt even more special. The nostalgia of the classic joint was every bit as homey as when they had eaten here years ago, and to top it off, they had it all to themselves. Automatically, they found their way to their favorite spot, the biggest grins on their faces. "Hello there!" A blue mare trotted up to them, her blonde mane tied neatly behind her. She smiled at Vinyl and Octavia, who returned it with their own. "Do you still have the Couples Special?" Vinyl asked. Octavia blushed as Vinyl gave her a knowing wink from across the booth. "I think my pop would spit his bit if we ever stopped selling it," the mare mused. "One couples special... Anything else I can get you lovely ponies?" "A slice of cheesecake to split, thank you," Octavia offered. "Alright, then. My name is Quick Service and I'll be your waitress tonight." Octavia and Vinyl thanked her, then she trotted off. "Quick Service?" Vinyl asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you dare." "I'm kidding, jeez," Vinyl said with a huff. "I know, but sometimes you get the strangest ideas, Vinyl." "Says the pony that tried to fly off the stage." The moment she said it, Vinyl shrunk back against her seat. Octavia sighed heavily and managed to crack a smile. "I was the one that made the decision to drink, Vinyl. I don't blame you for what happened last night." "But I talked you into going, even though I know how much it bothers you," Vinyl countered. "If it makes you feel better, I did actually have a little fun." Octavia reached over and took Vinyl's hoof in her own, offering her most reassuring smile. "I know you probably beat yourself up for it all day, so, really, I'm the one that's sorry." The conversation was put on hold as Quick Service trotted up, balancing two bowls on her back. With perfect precision, she tossed the bowls up gently to land right in front of them, removing a lid off each afterwards. The smell was wonderful, and Octavia could feel her cheeks redden even as she licked her lips. "Lemme know if you need anything else, okay?" Vinyl and Octavia merely waved a hoof as they indulged themselves in pure bliss. The pair was silent, save the sound of slurping and internal groans of satisfaction. "Never again," Vinyl started as she finished her bowl, "will we go this long without coming back here." "Agreed," Octavia replied, before slurping down the rest of her soup. Slurping, while normally not a habit Octavia indulged in, was completely unavoidable when eating pure ecstasy. Their soup finished and still waiting on dessert, Octavia got up and slid in next to Vinyl, pressing closely against her. "So... " Octavia started, flitting her eyelids, "what's the surprise?" Vinyl's fur tinted slightly violet at the contact, but she held strong against Octavia's assault. "It's not going to be that easy, filly." "We'll see..." Octavia teased. "Ahem," came an intrusive voice. Quick Service stood before them, cheesecake sliding down her back and onto the table. "I know the soup is good, but try to contain yourselves. I'm not licensed for that kind of action here." And that's one way to kill the mood. Author's Note About halfway there everypony, thanks for reading this far. Cool thing too is that I started on a different story last night, this one being finished already, we'll see how that one goes! As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated. They help me improve as a writer and thus give you better stories. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies EspressivoThe evening had been amazing. The last train to Ponyville clacked across the tracks, a quiet rhythm that was perfect to accompany the slow melody Vinyl hummed. Her hoof gently stroked through Octavia's mane, her friend having passed out almost the minute the train had departed. The slow rise and fall of her chest fell along in half-steps, the railway serving as the steady pulse. She's still a bit worn from last night. Vinyl's eyes drifted out to the stars, watching the intricate tapestry of Luna's sky wink at her from above. Lights twinkled in time with an invisible melody, tiny little notes that struck a chord in her mind. Vinyl smiled and nodded to the night. "I think I can work with that." Ponyville was quiet that evening. Octavia rested upon Vinyl's back, softly glowing with a magical aura as an added precaution. The trip took a bit longer than usual, as the few ponies they did cross would stop them, concerned about Octavia. Vinyl would smile, making a shushing noise with her hoof, and point to the slumbering mare. They would smile back, and then silently be on their way. "I love Ponyville," Vinyl whispered. "I love you too, Vinyl," Octavia moaned, her muzzle rubbing against Vinyl's neck. Vinyl cracked a smile as she continued on down the road. Her remaining journey went uninterrupted, and soon enough she was opening the door to their little cottage. Vinyl sighed happily as her eyes fell on her music equipment, silent and waiting for her loving touch. As she trotted further into their home, she passed Octavia's prized cello, sitting perfectly in its stand, ever vigilant for the return of its companion. Vinyl rubbed a hoof across it gently before carefully levitating Octavia onto her respective bed. Octavia curled up against the pillow as Vinyl pulled an extra blanket from her own bed, draping it across her favorite filly. Satisfied that Octavia would be comfortable til' morning, Vinyl quietly walked over to her set. Her hoof lovingly traced across the dials, before gently lifting up the needle. From a box in the corner floated an old record encased in Vinyl's magic, dusty and forgotten, until now. Vinyl blew the dust off the sleeve, extracted the record and placed it on the eye of the table with practiced ease. Then, a different record, one Octavia didn't even know Vinyl had, popped out from the back of her record box. Holding it in her magic, Vinyl traced the lettering with a hoof. First Concerto: Octavia Melody Performance at the Canterlot University Performing Arts Center Vinyl didn't care for symphonies, or parade bands, or much else than didn't have a killer vibe, but this was different. Listening to Octavia play sent chills through her whole body, because it was her, a true expression of Octavia's deepest self. It was because of this that Vinyl placed the record reverently on the second eye, plugging her headset into the device. "Time for The Scratch to take the stage one more time," Vinyl whispered, smirking a little despite herself. The brush of the warm sun slowly crept upon Vinyl's hoof, slowly pulling her consciousness from its dark slumber. Vinyl snorted awake, her hoof rising to rub her cheek, where an impression of the table had left its mark. Her horn lit, pushing in the playback button on her equipment with a click. Smiling, Vinyl bobbed her head slowly as her headphones pulsed with magical sound. When she was done, Vinyl got up and trotted out, careful to close the door quietly behind her. Celestia had just raised the sun, silhouetting the distant Canterlot mountains like a bright candle. Vinyl galloped down the main road, not stopping until she was once again in front of Twilight's Castle. As she was about to knock, Vinyl caught a touch of movement to the side. "Huh?" Vinyl followed along the crystal walls, a cool wind tussling her mane. A familiar pony was resting in the grass, leisurely holding a spool in her magic. The purple string shifted back and forth with the wind, eventually ending in a purple-pointed star. "Starlight?" Vinyl called out. Starlight Glimmer sat up in surprise, before she turned and spotted Vinyl. "Oh, Vinyl... Sorry, I'm not used to anypony being up this early." Vinyl cracked a smile as she glanced back to the castle. "She not much of a morning pony?" Starlight stifled a laugh as she patted the grass next to her. As she settled down next to Starlight, Vinyl watched the kite move in a repeated pattern. It took a moment, but soon she recognized the shape of her cutie mark, invisibly painted in the sky. "How do you get it to move like that?" Vinyl said, her glasses slipping slightly. "My telekinesis is never that smooth!" "I'm not levitating the kite," Starlight said, giving a good-natured roll of her eyes. "I'm moving the wind." "Is that even a thing?" "There's a lot that magic can accomplish, Vinyl." Starlight's horn sparked briefly, the kite's colors inverting as it waved around. "There's also a lot that magic can't do." She closed her eyes and smiled sadly. "Friendship might be magical, but that doesn't mean that magic can make people friends." "Sounds like you'd know..." "Ah, yes, sorry about my rambling." Starlight smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure you didn't come to listen to me philosophize about magic and friendship." Vinyl smirked and waved her off with a hoof. "No trouble, filly... Actually, I was hoping to set up a party for Octavia tomorrow. I, uh, just need help convincing Pinkie Pie to help me." Starlight blinked several times, before a long smirk blossomed across her face. "Oh, I'm sure that will be a terribly difficult and arduous quest, my dearest Vinyl. But for you, I shall stand before the mighty dragon of party planning and face the fire!" The was a long moment of silence before both mares burst into a fit of giggles. After a full minute of laughter, they were finally able to calm down enough to wipe the tears from their eyes. "So... can you help me?" Vinyl asked. "Anything for a friend." There was another moment between them, their eyes meeting before they shared a smile. "Anyway, let's head over. Pinkie Pie should just be getting up right about now." Starlight reeled in her kite, wrapping the string neatly before she teleported it out of sight. Her horn lit again, and soon a growing wind spiraled down towards them. Only a short while after, a nice, fluffy white cloud sat before them, softly glowing in Starlight's magic. "Cloudy day much?" Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow. "If we're going to Sugar Cube Corner, we might as well have fun while we're at it." "And who said magic can't help you make friends?" Starlight blushed, before her horn flashed once, causing Vinyl to feel light on her hooves. "Clouding-walking spell. Okay, now just climb aboard and we'll be on our way," Starlight said as she hopped up onto the puffy surface. "Oh, and I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Rainbow Dash... She might think I'm trying to replace her as weather control." "Hah!" Vinyl jumped up alongside Starlight, carefully situating herself into a comfortable position. "Now how do we get this ride to start?" "Just ask nicely." Starlight smirked. Another flash of magic from her horn and the wind pushed up and past them, carrying the cloud with it. Soon they were high in the air, about halfway past the terrace of Princess Twilight's castle. Another breeze rushed past and pushed them toward the center, the morning sun now high enough to illuminate the entire town. "This is pretty sweet." "Isn't it?" Starlight took them once around Ponyville, just because it seemed that Vinyl was enjoying the view, before heading down towards Sugar Cube Corner. The breeze ruffled Vinyl's already chaotic mane as they approached a second-story window, where Starlight raised a hoof and knocked on it gently. A shuffling could be heard from inside before the blinds were pulled up, followed by the window. A frazzled, pink-maned mare covered with a balloon-ridden robe looked out at them with half-lifted eyes. "Oh, hello, Starlight. Hello, Vinyl. What kind of goodies can I get you this morning?" Then Pinkie Pie blinked, shook her head and finally put the pieces together. "Morning, Pinkie Pie. How are you this morning?" Starlight asked, unable to keep a smile off her face. "Awake," Pinkie answered. Then her mouth dropped, her eyes widening in horror. "Did I miss something? A big party?Did somepony get their Cutie Mark?" Her mouth shut as her eyes spun, Starlight putting her hoof up to stop her. "Wait! No, don't tell me!" Starlight sighed, waiting for Pinkie Pie's panicking to play its course. When she'd finished rambling, Starlight found her window and took it. "Pinkie Pie, you didn't miss anything. Honestly, you're way too prepared for that to ever happen." Pinkie beamed with pride, saluting Starlight smartly with her hoof. "Vinyl here needs a party planned." "Oh, is that all?" Pinkie Pie said before giggling. Then she pulled out a piece of parchment and a container of... yes, that was food coloring. "Alrighty then, I need the name, theme, time, cutie mark, occassion and favorite types of desserts." Vinyl listed it all off for Pinkie, then thanked her before Starlight brought their cloud about-face. "And you thought it would be difficult," Starlight joked. "Thanks for the help, Starlight. Octavia means a lot to me, and now, so do you." They landed in front of Vinyl's home, the cloud disappearing into the ground. Starlight looked awkwardly at the house before she smiled, and then gave Vinyl a hug. Vinyl blinked in surprise, but reciprocated a moment later. "Thanks for giving me a chance, Vinyl." "You better be at the party, filly." "Wouldn't miss it." At that moment, the front door opened to reveal a rumpled Octavia, a rather irritated scowl on her face. Starlight and Vinyl broke up their hug hastily, Vinyl pushing her hoof through her mane. "You're on your own for this one, Scratch," Starlight said before teleporting away in a flash. "Fudge nuggets." Author's Note One chapter left ponies. Thanks for sticking with it thus far. As always, comments and critiques are welcome and very appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies ConcertoShe was in so much trouble. "And what exactly was that, VInyl?" Vinyl turned and blushed, her 'partner' vanishing in a flash. Slowly trotting towards Octavia, Vinyl attempted to explain herself out of what was a very incriminating scene. However... "Nope, I don't want to hear it." Octavia walked over, now feeling quite capable with the small surge of anger supplying her with energy. She grabbed a hold of the colorful tuft that was her roommate's tail and proceeded to drag her inside. "Octavia...?" Vinyl said, a touch of fear and concern in her voice. Even through a mouth full of hair, Octavia still managed to convey a decipherable message. "It's time to tune my cello." "Ohh... right there!" "Oh, you like that, don't you?" Vinyl teased as she carefully moved her hooves. "Yes! Just like that!" Vinyl grinned at Octavia as she worked, every little pulse from her horn making Octavia squeak adorably. "I've got something to tell you, Octy." "In just a minute," Octavia scolded her. "We're not finished!" A pair of grins were exchanged as Vinyl bent over once more. "You know, this isn't exactly what I had in mind when you said — " "Hush, you," Octavia interrupted. "There'll be time for that later, after you've finished making up for earlier." Vinyl rolled her eyes. "I told you that's not how it was! You can't hold that over my head forever, you know!" "I can if I want to!" Octavia huffed. "The things I do for love," Vinyl murmured as she applied the finishing touches with her magic. "Annnnnd done!" Vinyl lifted Octavia's cello back up and onto its stand. Then, with a quick motion, she pulled her hoof across the strings. The perfectly tuned chord rang out into the living room, sending chills down both their spines. "That's... quite lovely." Octavia smiled at the instrument, before moving her gaze to Vinyl. "I'm sorry for earlier, Vinyl. I overreacted a bit and I should have known better." "Hey, I know I'm a catch! I don't blame you for being jealous, filly." Octavia thumped her with a hoof, but cracked a smile anyway. "You don't have to make a joke out of everything, you know?" "Yeah, but that's just how I am." Vinyl tilted her glasses down and stared unblinkingly at Octavia. "Would you really have it any other way?" "Of course not." Vinyl wrapped her hoof around Octavia as they embraced each other. "So... what did you have to tell me?" Octavia whispered into her ear. "I've got a party planned for tonight, just for you." "Oh?" Octavia blinked, thinking it over as they separated. "Perhaps we can just have a quiet evening instead?" Smiling, Vinyl stepped forward and stole a kiss, leaving Octavia's cheeks tinted red. "The party isn't until late, and I know just how I want to spend the day." "Vinyl..." Octavia started, already rolling her eyes. "As much fun as that sounds, I had a different idea," Vinyl said, chuckling at Octavia's confused expression. "Well? What is it, then?" Octavia pulled her bow across the strings of her cello, slowly and with perfect poise. She'd gone through several compositions already, and was working her way through some of the older pieces she knew. And the entire time, Vinyl sat in front of her mixing table, completely enthralled with every note. Vinyl bobbed her head slowly, her glasses resting on the top of her head as she watched Octavia with admiration. Hours passed with Vinyl only moving to fetch Octavia a glass of water, or to occasionally fiddle with her equipment. Seven full suites and a variety of original pieces later, Octavia was finally exhausted. After resting her bow on top of the music stand, she placed the cello back into its cradle, giving it a final loving stroke with her hoof. "That was amazing." Vinyl trotted over, a small bit of water clinging to her eye. Octavia lifted a hoof and gently wiped the moisture away, her smile bigger than it had been in weeks. "I thought that classical pieces weren't your thing?" Vinyl smiled back, levitating her glasses off her head and into her hooves. "They're not. But when you play, Octavia, you just make it sound so much better." And with that, Vinyl placed her glasses on Octavia's face, careful to fit them exactly right. "When you play, it's like the whole world stops to listen." Octavia blushed fiercely, her hoof touching the glasses as she got the perfect view into Vinyl's perspective. Then a knock came from their front door. Octavia shot Vinyl a questioning glance, but she just shrugged and opened the door with her magic. They both blinked in surprise upon seeing their visitor. Rarity stood before them, her mane perfectly styled as usual, smiling at the pair. "Good afternoon, Ms. Melody, Ms. Scratch. I'm here at Princess Twilight's request to invite you to Ponyville's first hosting of Starswirl and the Red Giant." "Oh? Is that what the costumes were for?" Vinyl asked. "Of course. Now, I am aware of the party planned for later this evening, and it has been pushed back late enough for you to attend both." "Pinkie thinks of everything, doesn't she?" Vinyl said, chuckling lightly. "If it's dessert, celebration, or in any way related to having fun, then yes," Rarity affirmed. "Well?" Octavia smiled at Vinyl, giving her a nudge with her hoof. "Up for a little drama?" "Totally don't have enough of that already," Vinyl said. She was immediately stared down by twin angry-mare glares. "Just a joke, I swear." "Why do I even put up with you?" Octavia teased. "Because I can—" Vinyl began to say. "—be very romantic, yes," Octavia finished, doing her best to hide her embarrassment. Turning back to Rarity, Octavia bowed slightly. "We would happily attend, Ms. Rarity. Where is the play being held?" "In front of the castle, of course." To say that they had a good view would have been an understatement. Octavia and Vinyl had the best seats in the house, or castle, in this case. They sat on lovely lavender cushions, overlooking the play from the terrace. A generously sized wooden stage occupied the path to Twilight's castle, an enormous red curtain serving as the only backdrop. "How did they even get that set up that fast?" Octavia asked, leaning against Vinyl with an easy sigh. "The magic of friendship, I suppose," Vinyl said with a smirk. "Or maybe just one particularly gifted unicorn." "Hmm..." Octavia murmured. "If she did that all on her own, I might just have to upgrade." Then she gave a small bop against Vinyl's horn and giggled. "Oh, very funny," Vinyl grumbled. "It's not just the size, you know?" "Shh! The play is starting!" Vinyl turned to face forward as the curtain was raised, before a small dragon scampered forward and grabbed the microphone. "Oh, they're getting Spike to do the commentary?" Vinyl peered down at the stage, before giving a small shrug. "He's not actually in the story, but hey, at least he still gets to be useful." "I wish they'd give him the spotlight once in a while," Octavia mused. "But maybe he's better just being supportive." "He's helped bring out the best in Twilight. Being supportive is not only what he does best, but what he loves most." The voice was soft, coming from somepony that was slowly approaching from behind them. Octavia and Vinyl turned to behold the arrival of Princess Luna, who was smiling at them with mild amusement. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." They shook their heads fervently, and got up, and were about to bow before Princess Luna when she waved them off with a hoof. "Neigh, my dear ponies. I'm here to enjoy the performance as you are. Formalities are only a way of keeping ponies apart, and tonight, there is no need for such things." "We'd love for you to join us, Princess," Octavia said, an easy smile coming across her face. "I think I might just do that." "That was awesome!" "Indeed." "Fluttershy played the Redwood so well, you'd think she was born for the part." "I've performed in front of small crowds and gotten more nervous than she did. She did magnificently." They slowly made their way towards Sugarcube Corner, the evening streets of Ponyville filled with ponies chatting about the play. "Starlight played a good Starswirl." Vinyl waved her hoof in the air, a big grin on her face. "Was that just an illusion, or did she actually poof up that giant boulder?" Octavia shrugged as she bumped Vinyl with her flank. "Don't tell me you're jealous?" "No way, filly," Vinyl laughed as she put a hoof over Octavia. "But I wonder if she could teach me that..." "You want to summon giant boulders?" "Um, duh. That way my concerts would always rock!" Whack! "Hey!" "Sometimes, Vinyl, you're just too much." "You know you love me." "Tis' true. I've fallen for Equestria's cheesiest DJ." They shared a small kiss, fully aware that ponies were watching them. Vinyl smirked as they parted, blowing a bit of her mane away from her face. "Let's not keep Pinkie waiting," Vinyl said with a goofy smile. "That reminds me... How did you get this set up on such short notice?" Vinyl laughed, giving a good-natured shake of her head. "I had to promise all sorts of strange things to her, things that I'd rather not discuss with an innocent mare such as yourself." "Do you even have an off button?" "Oh yeah. You already know where to find it!" "Vinyl..." Octavia said, but smiled all the same. Sugarcube Corner was brilliantly decorated that night, every fixture possible having been affixed with glowing treble clefs. "Wow, Vinyl. That's just... beautiful." "Still can't compete with you." Vinyl pressed close to Octavia as they strode up to the front door. "If you butter me up any more, I'm going to melt through the floor." "Sounds delicious." The conversation was put on hold as they entered the bakery. All the center tables had been pushed to the side to make room for an impromptu dancing area. Several ponies were already mingling to a recording of Sapphire Shore's latest hits, and others were enjoying the many treats that had been provided by Pinkie Pie. "Oh, there you two are!" The pink party pony herself popped up in front of them, her frizzy mane decorated with pieces of wrapped candy. She beamed at them, pulling them forward with her hooves. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Thanks for putting this together for me," Vinyl managed to say as they were brought to the middle of the stage. "Any reason to throw a party is good enough for me," Pinkie Pie said, and then bent down, her voice lowering significantly. "I put a lot more effort into this one, but don't tell the other parties that, okay?" "Don't worry, Pinkie. Your secret is safe with me." Octavia rolled her eyes, but still held a sincere smile on her face. "Pinkie, you really have a knack for making ponies happy," Octavia said as she gestured to their surroundings with a hoof. Pinkie Pie giggled and then pointed at Vinyl. "I think she could give me a run for my bits, though. She's got something super sweet cooked up, right?" "Don't ruin the surprise." Pinkie Pie covered mouth with a hoof. Funny enough, said hoof was white and attached to a confused white unicorn. "Oh, hey, Rarity," Pinkie Pie said, giving Rarity her hoof back. "The play was great! Your costumes are always so amazing!" "Thank you, darling." "Oh, I need to go get something ready. I'll be back in a bit!" Then she winked at Vinyl and took off towards the kitchen. "What was that about?" Octavia asked, blinking in confusion. "It's just Pinkie Pie, dear. It's best to not to think about it." Rarity levitated a bite-sized pastry over and nibbled on it gently. "I hope you all enjoyed the play." "It was spectacular," Octavia responded. "I wish Twilight was here so we could thank her properly." "Unfortunately, she's lecturing Starlight right now... Something about the difference between creating matter and teleporting it from afar." "Sounds complicated," Vinyl said before chuckling. "I bet they're loving every moment." "Those ponies and their spells," Rarity mused. Then the lights dimmed slightly as Pinkie stepped out onto the dance floor, and bounced up to the record player. She popped the needle off with her nose and pulled out a shiny new record from inside her mane, set it down carefully, and then spun herself around. "And now the coolest new hit, straight from Ponyville's own Vinyl Scratch!" The small crowd of ponies stomped and cheered as Pinkie lowered the needle down. A powerful beat started pulsing through the bakery, followed by a catchy electric rhythm. Octavia's smile faded slightly as she looked at Vinyl. "I'll try and stay as long as I can bear it." Vinyl shook her head, smiling as Pinkie Pie trotted over with a small blue box. "I wrote this song for you, Octavia." Her horn glowed, the box popping open. Out floated a pair of polished grey headphones, complete with a treble clef carved elegantly onto both sides. "What's this?" Octavia reached out and took it with her hooves. "I suppose it might help a little, but..." "Just put 'em on, filly." Octavia didn't hesitate, sliding them over her ears. They fit comfortably and were even warm and fuzzy on the inside. What made Octavia stop, though, was what she heard. The music had... changed somehow. What she heard now, while similar in its rhythm, was the beautiful sound of a cello, playing powerfully into her mind. "What..." But she stopped once again, the music striking through her like she'd never felt. It was strange at first, but soon she realized it was her own cello, being played back to her. The thing that really mesmerized her, though, was that she didn't know the song. Here and there, she could hear the special little flourishes she gave to certain notes and chords, but the arrangement... "Vinyl," Octavia called out, pulling the headset off. "What is this?" "It's a special little something I whipped up earlier." Vinyl grinned broadly. "I got those," Vinyl pointed a hoof at the headphones, and then continued, "specially made by some special ponies to filter out everything but certain sounds." Then she gestured to the record behind her. "It's actually part of the song playing right now." "You're serious?" "It makes for a sick mix, Octy, trust me." Vinyl enveloped the headphones with her magic, giving them a small twirl as she continued. "These let you hear what's really special about the song." "You mean..." Octavia started. "Yeah. A part of you, babe. I finally found a way for our music to be together." "It's beautiful, Vinyl. You're beautiful, you know that?" "With you to inspire me, it's hard not to shine." "One more cheesy line from you and I'll have you tuning my cello for the next month." "Is that a promise?" Octavia stepped close, her tail curling around Vinyl's waist. Her breath tickled Vinyl's ear as she closed the distance, her nose pushing into Vinyl's mane. "A Pinkie Promise." Author's Note And there we have it folks. I'm sorry if anypony wanted it to go a bit longer, but this felt like a good place to wrap up this little tale. More stories coming from me soon, so don't you worry too much As always, comments and critiques are welcome and appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
FortissimoThe pounding wouldn't stop. Every thump, every thud, never ceasing. At this point, her headache was throbbing with the beat, her internal biology betraying her distaste as she scowled up at the stage. "I don't know how you can even stand this, Vinyl. Even if this music was palatable, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it while it's being shoved down my throat!" Vinyl Scratch swiveled her bar chair to face Octavia, a wide grin plastered underneath her bobbing muzzle. "Aw, come on, Tavi," Vinyl pleaded. "I know this music isn't really your thing, but hey, how often do you get invited to perform in the newest club in Canterlot?" Octavia shook her head, each motion falling in time with the downbeat. "Never, Vinyl. You were the one invited, remember? I'm still confused as to how I got here..." "Because it's my big day? Because you like watching me work my magic?" Vinyl tilted her head slightly, her tinted glasses sliding down just a bit to reveal those amazing magenta eyes. "Because I know how to tune your cello?" Octavia shoved a hoof against Vinyl, her cheeks puffing out as she glared at her friend. Sighing heavily, she managed to smile, even with the constant bass rattling her bones. "I do admit that you can be very... animated... at times, and that smirk you get when you really get into it is just adorable." Vinyl grinned as she hopped off her stool, levitated a small glass over, and finished it with one gulp. "Hey babe, as much as I like hearing how cool I am, it's time for The Scratch to take the stage." Octavia stifled a small laugh, watching as Vinyl trotted towards the stage. The pony behind the turntables nodded his head to the beat, his horn not only working the equipment, but also providing a bit of a light show. As she watched the small display of orange and red fireworks die down, the song coming to the end, Octavia saw a white pegasus dive from backstage, grabbing a microphone that hung from the ceiling. "Everypony give a big cheer for Fret Note! That was wicked, Fret!" The crowd between Octavia and the stage roared their agreement. Fret Note gave a wave and a quick bow before taking his leave. Vinyl approached from offstage, giving Fret Note a hoof-bump as she passed him. "Now introducing The Queen of Wubs, The Master of Mixing herself, Vinyl Scratch!" Vinyl walked coolly up to the equipment, tracing it casually in her magic. She closed her eyes and smiled as she got a feel for the setup. She did this every time before she played, and Octavia always enjoyed watching her typically boisterous friend become perfectly calm, as if she were about to conduct a symphony. Vinyl flipped a record in the air, giving it a moment to spin, before it fell onto the table. Then the music started. Octavia hadn't even noticed its absence until that moment, her residual headache still keeping time with a muted melody. It started off low enough, as it usually did, until it picked up in both volume and tempo. A second record was added, and with the mixing of melodies and bass, the crowd exploded once more. Octavia grimaced at the cacophony of hooves, stereo, screams and whistles, watching Vinyl as she moved in time with the beat. When Vinyl got into the groove, she would sometime spin and hoof-bump the air with a confident smirk. A small smile crossed Octavia's face, even as her ears drooped a bit. She had tried, on several occasions, to learn to enjoy the genres of music that Vinyl was enthralled by, but to no avail. "It's just... not my cup of tea, Vinyl." Even so, she had come along to the opening of the Bass Palace. Vinyl knew just how to pluck Octavia's strings, and in the end, had worn down her resolve. All that was left was to endure a bit longer, just until Vinyl was done, and then they'd be off to a particularly exquisite restaurant in the city — the carrot that Vinyl had used to get her here. Octavia caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye and found a drink had been set in front of her. She eyed the small glass of liquid bronze, a silver-coated earth pony behind the bar giving her a knowing smile. "Headache now or headache later?" "That's not quite my cup of tea either... but I appreciate the thought, Mr... " "Just call me Winnisiegh, everypony does," he said with a chuckle. "Octavia Melody." The liquid inside the small glass still warbled around, almost taunting her. "Never partook, Ms. Octavia?" "I don't like the idea of giving up control of my decisions." "It's not like that, darling." Winniseigh chuckled as he poured a second drink, holding it up gingerly for her to see. "Rather, it douses the fire in our mind and lets us just be in the moment." Octavia scooped up the drink with her fetlock and gave it a little swish. A small smile crept onto Octavia's face as she raised it to Winnisiegh. "Will it let me enjoy Vinyl's music?" The stallion smiled and nodded, his eyes darting to the stage, then back to Octavia. "To the Princesses, I suppose." Octavia smiled as the stallion raised his own glass to meet hers and echoed her sentiment. The next hour passed a little faster after that, and Octavia lost track of exactly how many drinks she'd had. The pounding in her head had receded somewhat, and she was observing Vinyl's performance with a silly smile. "Wooo! Go, Vinyl!" Her hooves went wide as she waved them enthusiastically, nearly tipping off her bar stool in the process. After an instant of peril, Octavia righted herself, giggling all the while. She looked up in time to catch Vinyl's stare, and though dark glasses obscured Vinyl's eyes, her dropped jaw still clued Octavia in to where she was looking. The music wound down, Octavia's hoof tapping to the diminishing beat as it faded into nothing. Getting up, she gave a small bow to Winnisiegh, who laughed and waved her off. She made her way to the stage, staggering between the jumbling herd of ponies, until she was front and center. "Octavia?" 'Yes, Vinyl, that's my name." "Oh, sweet Celestia, you're drunk." "What? No..." Octavia gave an adorable hiccup, her cheeks tinting red. "Okay, maybe a little." "I've still got one more song, but maybe we should get you home, filly." "Oh, no, you're not gonna leave all these ponies hanging, and then blame me for it in the morning!" The ponies listening in nodded their agreement, and some started stomping their hooves in protest. "One more song! One more song!" yelled the voices in near-unison. Octavia took that moment to trot to the side, albeit with some difficulty, and make her way up onto the stage. She swayed her hips, either for balance or for some other effect as she approached Vinyl. She got extremely close, and then whispered into Vinyl's ear. "One more song, Ms. Scratch, if you would." Then she licked from the top of Vinyl's neck, all the way to the tip of her ear. Vinyl shivered involuntarily, her muzzle actually twitching as she nearly stumbled back to her equipment. One final moment of calm permeated the stage as Vinyl's mind was surely screaming with exploding fireworks. "If you insist, filly." The last song went by in a blur as Vinyl moved with renewed vigor, the crowd jumping and stomping along with the music. Octavia found herself caught up in their enthusiasm as she danced in her own way. Her half-twirls and saunters went perfectly from her perspective, though in actuality, probably appeared rather comedic. Nopony laughed, though, maybe because she just seemed so into it. The music crescendoed with its grand finale, and Octavia's inhibition was finally lost to the storm of music and liquid courage. She turned and galloped to the end of the stage, and then jumped out with her hooves outstretched, as if trying to fly across the room. The herd of ponies beneath her, surprised by her sudden attempt to grow wings, scattered like insects. Thump "Octy... Octy! Octavia!!!" Author's Note Big thanks to all my prereaders, y'all know who you are, for giving this story a good look through. I have all but the last chapter written for this story, and should be finishing that today, so I'll be publishing a chapter every day or so. It's not a long story, but I wanted to make sure it was nice and tied up before I started publishing. As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
Capriccio"Octavia? Wake up, Octy." The grey mare stirred slightly, struggling to pull herself from the dark embrace of sleep. Slowly, she opened her violet eyes and peered up at Vinyl. The stark white hospital room came into existence around her terribly worried friend, the early morning sun peering through her window. "Vinyl? Wha-what happened?" She raised a hoof to her head, groaning as it rubbed against the thick bandages that wrapped around it. "Redheart said you're suffering from an 'MTBI', but all I know is that when you tried to stage-dive, you whacked your head pretty hard." "That's a mild traumatic brain injury, Vinyl... And I tried to do a what!?" "I didn't even know that you drank, Octavia. We've been together for a while, and I've never seen you have so much as an apple cider." Octavia's face scrunched in anguish as she pulled herself into a sitting position. "I don't drink, Vinyl. At least, I hadn't until last night..." Her face reddened as Vinyl's worried expression eased just a tad. "Is my music so bad that you need to get hammered to enjoy it?" Vinyl managed to crack a smile, but her eyes didn't quite meet Octavia's. Octavia sputtered, looking up at Vinyl with a half-formed excuse already on her lips. It faltered, however, when she saw the defeated look on her roommate's face. "Vinyl... " she started to say. Vinyl shook her head, stopping Octavia with a hoof. "No, Octavia. I'm sorry for pushing you to go." Vinyl forced a soft smile to her lips. "I know my music isn't really your thing, but I love spending time with you, and... no, I'm sorry regardless." "I appreciate the sentiment, Vinyl, really." Octavia smiled at the forlorn unicorn, her hoof moving to brush through Vinyl's mane. "You still owe me that dinner, though, Ms. 'Queen of Wubs'." "I owe you more than that, filly." Vinyl pulled away and moved towards the hospital door, turning her head just after she turned the knob. "You rest up. I'll be back later and we'll go out, just me, you, and the classiest joint in the city." "Alright, Vinyl. Just don't do anything — " Whatever she had said next went unheard as Vinyl shut the door, cantering off towards the front exit. The entire train ride home, Vinyl sat frowning as she peered out the window, her headphones resting beside her. A minute or so later, Ponyville came into view, the large crystal tower visible high above the town. "I hope she's not off on some friendship quest or something," Vinyl said, closing her eyes. The train arrived soon after, the whistle blowing as ponies departed. Vinyl made her way through the center of town, her sights set on Princess Twilight's castle. Many ponies waved at her as she passed, and by the time she'd arrived at the crystal castle, she had a smile spread across her lips. "I love Ponyville." She raised a hoof and knocked it against the heavy door. A minute passed and she knocked again, her hoof tapping as she stared up at the enormous door. "She better be here. I have a real friendship problem here, and it's way more important than some bugbear attack." Vinyl straightened when hoofsteps came from the other side. A unicorn popped her head out at Vinyl, her purple and toothpaste-streaked mane following her a moment later. "Can I help you?" she asked, blinking at Vinyl. "Um, yes. Is Princess Twilight here? I have a bit of a friendship problem." "Ah, Twilight's off helping Rarity with something fashiony." She pushed the door open and waved Vinyl inside. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, her personal student. Why don't you come in and sit while we wait for her?" Vinyl nodded, following after her. The door swung magically closed behind her as they moved inside the crystal castle. The pair of ponies passed through a door-ridden hallway, taking a right to another set of large doors that opened into a grand library. Vinyl gave a low whistle as she scanned the columns of literature. "That's a lot of books." "Well, yeah," Starlight said, waving a hoof. "Given that Twilight's the Element of Magic, and was even Celestia's prized pupil at one time, I'm surprised we don't have more books." They shared a laugh as they settled down onto a pair of plump purple cushions. "Now, tell me about your friendship problem." "Oh, well... I was gonna wait for Twilight..." Starlight's smile faltered slightly, seemingly deep in thought for a moment. "Twilight wants me to be more active in helping ponies. Please give me a chance..." She finished it off with a slightly pouty look, her bottom lip quivering slightly. "Fine!" Vinyl said, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "That was pretty good, by the way." "Thanks," Starlight said, her smile returning. "I learned it from Rarity, it's surprisingly effective at times." Vinyl raised an eyebrow, but decided to move on. "Well, basically, Octavia and I have been friends for a good while now. More than friends really..." "Uh-huh," Starlight murmured, conjuring a quill and paper from the aether. The scratching against the paper actually made a decent rhythm, which Vinyl noted for later. "We've always had very different tastes in music, and while I've gone to most of her concerts, and vise-versa, we haven't managed to change that." "I see..." Starlight said, a pair of glasses magically appearing on her muzzle. "And you live together, do you not?" "Yeah, we moved in together about a year ago." "Then how do you put up with the difference in music at home?" "Well, I have my headphones," Vinyl replied, pulling them from a small saddlebag on her side. "I just plug 'em in and she can't even hear it." The sound of gears turning in Vinyl's mind was nearly audible, then she jumped up, her eyes wide. "Wait... I think I just had the sweetest idea ever!" Then she jumped forward and hugged a startled Starlight. "You're a genius at this, just so you know." Starlight blushed, waving the compliment off with a hoof. "I've got a good teacher." An hour later, they'd had it worked out. Vinyl trotted out of Twilight's castle, a happy grin on her face. She made a quick beat across town and within a few minutes had arrived at her next destination. Vinyl stood outside Carousel Boutique, catching her breath just as she opened the door. Before her stood a rather strange sight: Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Fluttershy, all whom she knew in passing, were bickering back and forth like the world would soon end. Poor Fluttershy stood between the bickering mares, dressed in what looked like a floral costume of some exotic plant. "That red is just too garish, Twilight. It makes my eyes want to scream in protest," Rarity proclaimed, her hoof covering her eyes dramatically. "It's the most technically accurate color, Rarity. Offensive or not, it'd be wrong to be any other color." Twilight shook her head in exasperation. "This play needs to be historically accurate as possible." Poor Fluttershy just shifted her hooves slightly before she noticed Vinyl's entrance. She smiled apologetically before coughing into her hoof. Twilight and Rarity stopped as Fluttershy gestured forward at Vinyl, their eyes widening in acknowledgement that their conversation was no longer private. "Oh, um, sorry about that, darling." Rarity stepped forward, a small blush easily spotted on her snow-white fur. "Please excuse our little debate. Now, how can I help you?" "I need a little bit of work done for a close friend of mine." "How close?" Rarity asked, a sly smile sneaking onto her features. "As close as two ponies can be," Vinyl replied, blushing slightly. "Sometimes it feels like we're perfect for each other, and other times, we seem to bicker like foals." "That's not unusual," Twilight said, flashing Rarity a smile. "Even the best of friends will have their differences." "Twilight is absolutely correct, Ms. Scratch. Now... can I inquire as to the specifics of your request?" Rarity asked. Vinyl ran a hoof through her electric-blue mane before levitating something out of her saddlebags. "Starlight sent me here," Vinyl said, beaming at Twilight. "She already worked the magic out and everything, I just need a few, err, fashionable touches." "Of course, darling," Rarity replied. "She's a good student," Twilight said with a proud smile. "She's got a good teacher," Vinyl and Rarity said in unison, making Twilight blush. Author's Note Hey ponies, hope you're enjoying the story! I've just about finalized the last chapter, just gotta get it read over at some point. Otherwise, I think I'll release a chapter a day 'til it's over. As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated! With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
IntermezzoThe hospital was probably the least exciting place Octavia had ever had the misfortune of being in, and yes, that included the club from last night. At this point, she might have even gone back willingly, head-wrappings and all, just to kill the mundane atmosphere that permeated the halls of the Canterlot hospital. "I wish I had my cello. At least then I could practice a bit," Octavia said, looking up at the television screen mounted to the wall. She had the volume muted, the droll dialog actually worse than the silence. Instead, she made up speeches for the characters, creating her own little story for them. It was a drastic improvement indeed. "I'm sorry, darling, but there's just no money for the surgery," Octavia said, trying to imitate the voice of an older stallion. "But.. What about Crimson? He won't survive without the operation." She settled on a mid alto for the mother, smiling at her own creation. "We'll have to amputate the wing if you don't have the bits by week's end," the voice of the doctor responded. "Isn't there something you can do?" Octavia pleaded, her feminine alter-ego taking the stage once more. "Of course there's something we can do," a familiar voice called from the side, making Octavia give a little squeak of surprise. Vinyl stood at the doorway, sporting a broad grin. "Glad to see that you're having a good time without me." Octavia rolled her eyes as she turned the television off with a remote. "It's been dreadful, Vinyl. Can you check to see when I can leave?" Vinyl waved a hoof, her grin growing wider. "They're coming in a couple minutes to remove the bandages, they just needed somepony to escort you out of the hospital." Then she winked, took her glasses off and gave a totally-not-subtle wink at Octavia. "And it turns out, the lucky pony that gets to take you home is me." "As if I'm some prize you've won?" Octavia said with a laugh. "You're a prize, alright, Tavi." Vinyl slipped her glasses back on and started backing out of her room. "And I'm the luckiest mare in the world." Octavia's cheeks burned fiercely as Vinyl left, presumably to go get the doctors. She honestly did feel better after the doctor had worked his magic, and if Vinyl was still willing, she was looking forward to eating something other than the terrible hospital food. In the next hour, they'd removed her bandages, finished all the paperwork and wished Octavia farewell as the couple exited the facility. Vinyl trotted next to her, humming a little tune to herself as they walked to the evening streets of Canterlot. "You seem rather cheerful, Vinyl. Did something happen?" Vinyl nearly stumbled, blushing afterwards as she sheepishly met Octavia's eyes. "It's a surprise, alright?" "Fine, fine, but you know I'm going to pull it out of you over dinner, right?" Vinyl stopped in place, giving Octavia an apologetic smile. "So... unfortunately, the reservations were for yesterday, and I doubt they'd let me change them." Octavia's head dropped a little, but then perked back up. "Since we're in Canterlot, why don't we revisit our former trotting grounds?" "The old diner?" Vinyl raised an eyebrow, but then smiled warmly. "Great idea, glad I thought of it!" Her totally amazing joke was met with a roll of Octavia's eyes and a firm sock to the shoulder. At least the walk was pleasant. Orange sunlight peered just over the small residential buildings as their hooves guided them along a familiar path. The cool wind swept peacefully past Octavia and Vinyl, moving the autumn leaves in a wistful dance. "There it is!" Octavia pointed with a hoof. "I know... I can see it, too." Vinyl gave her a teasing nudge with her hoof. They walked up to the old-fashioned diner, Vinyl trotting ahead to pull the door open with a hoof, Octavia giving her a small smile. She could have used her magic, but this felt even more special. The nostalgia of the classic joint was every bit as homey as when they had eaten here years ago, and to top it off, they had it all to themselves. Automatically, they found their way to their favorite spot, the biggest grins on their faces. "Hello there!" A blue mare trotted up to them, her blonde mane tied neatly behind her. She smiled at Vinyl and Octavia, who returned it with their own. "Do you still have the Couples Special?" Vinyl asked. Octavia blushed as Vinyl gave her a knowing wink from across the booth. "I think my pop would spit his bit if we ever stopped selling it," the mare mused. "One couples special... Anything else I can get you lovely ponies?" "A slice of cheesecake to split, thank you," Octavia offered. "Alright, then. My name is Quick Service and I'll be your waitress tonight." Octavia and Vinyl thanked her, then she trotted off. "Quick Service?" Vinyl asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you dare." "I'm kidding, jeez," Vinyl said with a huff. "I know, but sometimes you get the strangest ideas, Vinyl." "Says the pony that tried to fly off the stage." The moment she said it, Vinyl shrunk back against her seat. Octavia sighed heavily and managed to crack a smile. "I was the one that made the decision to drink, Vinyl. I don't blame you for what happened last night." "But I talked you into going, even though I know how much it bothers you," Vinyl countered. "If it makes you feel better, I did actually have a little fun." Octavia reached over and took Vinyl's hoof in her own, offering her most reassuring smile. "I know you probably beat yourself up for it all day, so, really, I'm the one that's sorry." The conversation was put on hold as Quick Service trotted up, balancing two bowls on her back. With perfect precision, she tossed the bowls up gently to land right in front of them, removing a lid off each afterwards. The smell was wonderful, and Octavia could feel her cheeks redden even as she licked her lips. "Lemme know if you need anything else, okay?" Vinyl and Octavia merely waved a hoof as they indulged themselves in pure bliss. The pair was silent, save the sound of slurping and internal groans of satisfaction. "Never again," Vinyl started as she finished her bowl, "will we go this long without coming back here." "Agreed," Octavia replied, before slurping down the rest of her soup. Slurping, while normally not a habit Octavia indulged in, was completely unavoidable when eating pure ecstasy. Their soup finished and still waiting on dessert, Octavia got up and slid in next to Vinyl, pressing closely against her. "So... " Octavia started, flitting her eyelids, "what's the surprise?" Vinyl's fur tinted slightly violet at the contact, but she held strong against Octavia's assault. "It's not going to be that easy, filly." "We'll see..." Octavia teased. "Ahem," came an intrusive voice. Quick Service stood before them, cheesecake sliding down her back and onto the table. "I know the soup is good, but try to contain yourselves. I'm not licensed for that kind of action here." And that's one way to kill the mood. Author's Note About halfway there everypony, thanks for reading this far. Cool thing too is that I started on a different story last night, this one being finished already, we'll see how that one goes! As always, comments and critiques are more than appreciated. They help me improve as a writer and thus give you better stories. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
EspressivoThe evening had been amazing. The last train to Ponyville clacked across the tracks, a quiet rhythm that was perfect to accompany the slow melody Vinyl hummed. Her hoof gently stroked through Octavia's mane, her friend having passed out almost the minute the train had departed. The slow rise and fall of her chest fell along in half-steps, the railway serving as the steady pulse. She's still a bit worn from last night. Vinyl's eyes drifted out to the stars, watching the intricate tapestry of Luna's sky wink at her from above. Lights twinkled in time with an invisible melody, tiny little notes that struck a chord in her mind. Vinyl smiled and nodded to the night. "I think I can work with that." Ponyville was quiet that evening. Octavia rested upon Vinyl's back, softly glowing with a magical aura as an added precaution. The trip took a bit longer than usual, as the few ponies they did cross would stop them, concerned about Octavia. Vinyl would smile, making a shushing noise with her hoof, and point to the slumbering mare. They would smile back, and then silently be on their way. "I love Ponyville," Vinyl whispered. "I love you too, Vinyl," Octavia moaned, her muzzle rubbing against Vinyl's neck. Vinyl cracked a smile as she continued on down the road. Her remaining journey went uninterrupted, and soon enough she was opening the door to their little cottage. Vinyl sighed happily as her eyes fell on her music equipment, silent and waiting for her loving touch. As she trotted further into their home, she passed Octavia's prized cello, sitting perfectly in its stand, ever vigilant for the return of its companion. Vinyl rubbed a hoof across it gently before carefully levitating Octavia onto her respective bed. Octavia curled up against the pillow as Vinyl pulled an extra blanket from her own bed, draping it across her favorite filly. Satisfied that Octavia would be comfortable til' morning, Vinyl quietly walked over to her set. Her hoof lovingly traced across the dials, before gently lifting up the needle. From a box in the corner floated an old record encased in Vinyl's magic, dusty and forgotten, until now. Vinyl blew the dust off the sleeve, extracted the record and placed it on the eye of the table with practiced ease. Then, a different record, one Octavia didn't even know Vinyl had, popped out from the back of her record box. Holding it in her magic, Vinyl traced the lettering with a hoof. First Concerto: Octavia Melody Performance at the Canterlot University Performing Arts Center Vinyl didn't care for symphonies, or parade bands, or much else than didn't have a killer vibe, but this was different. Listening to Octavia play sent chills through her whole body, because it was her, a true expression of Octavia's deepest self. It was because of this that Vinyl placed the record reverently on the second eye, plugging her headset into the device. "Time for The Scratch to take the stage one more time," Vinyl whispered, smirking a little despite herself. The brush of the warm sun slowly crept upon Vinyl's hoof, slowly pulling her consciousness from its dark slumber. Vinyl snorted awake, her hoof rising to rub her cheek, where an impression of the table had left its mark. Her horn lit, pushing in the playback button on her equipment with a click. Smiling, Vinyl bobbed her head slowly as her headphones pulsed with magical sound. When she was done, Vinyl got up and trotted out, careful to close the door quietly behind her. Celestia had just raised the sun, silhouetting the distant Canterlot mountains like a bright candle. Vinyl galloped down the main road, not stopping until she was once again in front of Twilight's Castle. As she was about to knock, Vinyl caught a touch of movement to the side. "Huh?" Vinyl followed along the crystal walls, a cool wind tussling her mane. A familiar pony was resting in the grass, leisurely holding a spool in her magic. The purple string shifted back and forth with the wind, eventually ending in a purple-pointed star. "Starlight?" Vinyl called out. Starlight Glimmer sat up in surprise, before she turned and spotted Vinyl. "Oh, Vinyl... Sorry, I'm not used to anypony being up this early." Vinyl cracked a smile as she glanced back to the castle. "She not much of a morning pony?" Starlight stifled a laugh as she patted the grass next to her. As she settled down next to Starlight, Vinyl watched the kite move in a repeated pattern. It took a moment, but soon she recognized the shape of her cutie mark, invisibly painted in the sky. "How do you get it to move like that?" Vinyl said, her glasses slipping slightly. "My telekinesis is never that smooth!" "I'm not levitating the kite," Starlight said, giving a good-natured roll of her eyes. "I'm moving the wind." "Is that even a thing?" "There's a lot that magic can accomplish, Vinyl." Starlight's horn sparked briefly, the kite's colors inverting as it waved around. "There's also a lot that magic can't do." She closed her eyes and smiled sadly. "Friendship might be magical, but that doesn't mean that magic can make people friends." "Sounds like you'd know..." "Ah, yes, sorry about my rambling." Starlight smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure you didn't come to listen to me philosophize about magic and friendship." Vinyl smirked and waved her off with a hoof. "No trouble, filly... Actually, I was hoping to set up a party for Octavia tomorrow. I, uh, just need help convincing Pinkie Pie to help me." Starlight blinked several times, before a long smirk blossomed across her face. "Oh, I'm sure that will be a terribly difficult and arduous quest, my dearest Vinyl. But for you, I shall stand before the mighty dragon of party planning and face the fire!" The was a long moment of silence before both mares burst into a fit of giggles. After a full minute of laughter, they were finally able to calm down enough to wipe the tears from their eyes. "So... can you help me?" Vinyl asked. "Anything for a friend." There was another moment between them, their eyes meeting before they shared a smile. "Anyway, let's head over. Pinkie Pie should just be getting up right about now." Starlight reeled in her kite, wrapping the string neatly before she teleported it out of sight. Her horn lit again, and soon a growing wind spiraled down towards them. Only a short while after, a nice, fluffy white cloud sat before them, softly glowing in Starlight's magic. "Cloudy day much?" Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow. "If we're going to Sugar Cube Corner, we might as well have fun while we're at it." "And who said magic can't help you make friends?" Starlight blushed, before her horn flashed once, causing Vinyl to feel light on her hooves. "Clouding-walking spell. Okay, now just climb aboard and we'll be on our way," Starlight said as she hopped up onto the puffy surface. "Oh, and I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Rainbow Dash... She might think I'm trying to replace her as weather control." "Hah!" Vinyl jumped up alongside Starlight, carefully situating herself into a comfortable position. "Now how do we get this ride to start?" "Just ask nicely." Starlight smirked. Another flash of magic from her horn and the wind pushed up and past them, carrying the cloud with it. Soon they were high in the air, about halfway past the terrace of Princess Twilight's castle. Another breeze rushed past and pushed them toward the center, the morning sun now high enough to illuminate the entire town. "This is pretty sweet." "Isn't it?" Starlight took them once around Ponyville, just because it seemed that Vinyl was enjoying the view, before heading down towards Sugar Cube Corner. The breeze ruffled Vinyl's already chaotic mane as they approached a second-story window, where Starlight raised a hoof and knocked on it gently. A shuffling could be heard from inside before the blinds were pulled up, followed by the window. A frazzled, pink-maned mare covered with a balloon-ridden robe looked out at them with half-lifted eyes. "Oh, hello, Starlight. Hello, Vinyl. What kind of goodies can I get you this morning?" Then Pinkie Pie blinked, shook her head and finally put the pieces together. "Morning, Pinkie Pie. How are you this morning?" Starlight asked, unable to keep a smile off her face. "Awake," Pinkie answered. Then her mouth dropped, her eyes widening in horror. "Did I miss something? A big party?Did somepony get their Cutie Mark?" Her mouth shut as her eyes spun, Starlight putting her hoof up to stop her. "Wait! No, don't tell me!" Starlight sighed, waiting for Pinkie Pie's panicking to play its course. When she'd finished rambling, Starlight found her window and took it. "Pinkie Pie, you didn't miss anything. Honestly, you're way too prepared for that to ever happen." Pinkie beamed with pride, saluting Starlight smartly with her hoof. "Vinyl here needs a party planned." "Oh, is that all?" Pinkie Pie said before giggling. Then she pulled out a piece of parchment and a container of... yes, that was food coloring. "Alrighty then, I need the name, theme, time, cutie mark, occassion and favorite types of desserts." Vinyl listed it all off for Pinkie, then thanked her before Starlight brought their cloud about-face. "And you thought it would be difficult," Starlight joked. "Thanks for the help, Starlight. Octavia means a lot to me, and now, so do you." They landed in front of Vinyl's home, the cloud disappearing into the ground. Starlight looked awkwardly at the house before she smiled, and then gave Vinyl a hug. Vinyl blinked in surprise, but reciprocated a moment later. "Thanks for giving me a chance, Vinyl." "You better be at the party, filly." "Wouldn't miss it." At that moment, the front door opened to reveal a rumpled Octavia, a rather irritated scowl on her face. Starlight and Vinyl broke up their hug hastily, Vinyl pushing her hoof through her mane. "You're on your own for this one, Scratch," Starlight said before teleporting away in a flash. "Fudge nuggets." Author's Note One chapter left ponies. Thanks for sticking with it thus far. As always, comments and critiques are welcome and very appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
ConcertoShe was in so much trouble. "And what exactly was that, VInyl?" Vinyl turned and blushed, her 'partner' vanishing in a flash. Slowly trotting towards Octavia, Vinyl attempted to explain herself out of what was a very incriminating scene. However... "Nope, I don't want to hear it." Octavia walked over, now feeling quite capable with the small surge of anger supplying her with energy. She grabbed a hold of the colorful tuft that was her roommate's tail and proceeded to drag her inside. "Octavia...?" Vinyl said, a touch of fear and concern in her voice. Even through a mouth full of hair, Octavia still managed to convey a decipherable message. "It's time to tune my cello." "Ohh... right there!" "Oh, you like that, don't you?" Vinyl teased as she carefully moved her hooves. "Yes! Just like that!" Vinyl grinned at Octavia as she worked, every little pulse from her horn making Octavia squeak adorably. "I've got something to tell you, Octy." "In just a minute," Octavia scolded her. "We're not finished!" A pair of grins were exchanged as Vinyl bent over once more. "You know, this isn't exactly what I had in mind when you said — " "Hush, you," Octavia interrupted. "There'll be time for that later, after you've finished making up for earlier." Vinyl rolled her eyes. "I told you that's not how it was! You can't hold that over my head forever, you know!" "I can if I want to!" Octavia huffed. "The things I do for love," Vinyl murmured as she applied the finishing touches with her magic. "Annnnnd done!" Vinyl lifted Octavia's cello back up and onto its stand. Then, with a quick motion, she pulled her hoof across the strings. The perfectly tuned chord rang out into the living room, sending chills down both their spines. "That's... quite lovely." Octavia smiled at the instrument, before moving her gaze to Vinyl. "I'm sorry for earlier, Vinyl. I overreacted a bit and I should have known better." "Hey, I know I'm a catch! I don't blame you for being jealous, filly." Octavia thumped her with a hoof, but cracked a smile anyway. "You don't have to make a joke out of everything, you know?" "Yeah, but that's just how I am." Vinyl tilted her glasses down and stared unblinkingly at Octavia. "Would you really have it any other way?" "Of course not." Vinyl wrapped her hoof around Octavia as they embraced each other. "So... what did you have to tell me?" Octavia whispered into her ear. "I've got a party planned for tonight, just for you." "Oh?" Octavia blinked, thinking it over as they separated. "Perhaps we can just have a quiet evening instead?" Smiling, Vinyl stepped forward and stole a kiss, leaving Octavia's cheeks tinted red. "The party isn't until late, and I know just how I want to spend the day." "Vinyl..." Octavia started, already rolling her eyes. "As much fun as that sounds, I had a different idea," Vinyl said, chuckling at Octavia's confused expression. "Well? What is it, then?" Octavia pulled her bow across the strings of her cello, slowly and with perfect poise. She'd gone through several compositions already, and was working her way through some of the older pieces she knew. And the entire time, Vinyl sat in front of her mixing table, completely enthralled with every note. Vinyl bobbed her head slowly, her glasses resting on the top of her head as she watched Octavia with admiration. Hours passed with Vinyl only moving to fetch Octavia a glass of water, or to occasionally fiddle with her equipment. Seven full suites and a variety of original pieces later, Octavia was finally exhausted. After resting her bow on top of the music stand, she placed the cello back into its cradle, giving it a final loving stroke with her hoof. "That was amazing." Vinyl trotted over, a small bit of water clinging to her eye. Octavia lifted a hoof and gently wiped the moisture away, her smile bigger than it had been in weeks. "I thought that classical pieces weren't your thing?" Vinyl smiled back, levitating her glasses off her head and into her hooves. "They're not. But when you play, Octavia, you just make it sound so much better." And with that, Vinyl placed her glasses on Octavia's face, careful to fit them exactly right. "When you play, it's like the whole world stops to listen." Octavia blushed fiercely, her hoof touching the glasses as she got the perfect view into Vinyl's perspective. Then a knock came from their front door. Octavia shot Vinyl a questioning glance, but she just shrugged and opened the door with her magic. They both blinked in surprise upon seeing their visitor. Rarity stood before them, her mane perfectly styled as usual, smiling at the pair. "Good afternoon, Ms. Melody, Ms. Scratch. I'm here at Princess Twilight's request to invite you to Ponyville's first hosting of Starswirl and the Red Giant." "Oh? Is that what the costumes were for?" Vinyl asked. "Of course. Now, I am aware of the party planned for later this evening, and it has been pushed back late enough for you to attend both." "Pinkie thinks of everything, doesn't she?" Vinyl said, chuckling lightly. "If it's dessert, celebration, or in any way related to having fun, then yes," Rarity affirmed. "Well?" Octavia smiled at Vinyl, giving her a nudge with her hoof. "Up for a little drama?" "Totally don't have enough of that already," Vinyl said. She was immediately stared down by twin angry-mare glares. "Just a joke, I swear." "Why do I even put up with you?" Octavia teased. "Because I can—" Vinyl began to say. "—be very romantic, yes," Octavia finished, doing her best to hide her embarrassment. Turning back to Rarity, Octavia bowed slightly. "We would happily attend, Ms. Rarity. Where is the play being held?" "In front of the castle, of course." To say that they had a good view would have been an understatement. Octavia and Vinyl had the best seats in the house, or castle, in this case. They sat on lovely lavender cushions, overlooking the play from the terrace. A generously sized wooden stage occupied the path to Twilight's castle, an enormous red curtain serving as the only backdrop. "How did they even get that set up that fast?" Octavia asked, leaning against Vinyl with an easy sigh. "The magic of friendship, I suppose," Vinyl said with a smirk. "Or maybe just one particularly gifted unicorn." "Hmm..." Octavia murmured. "If she did that all on her own, I might just have to upgrade." Then she gave a small bop against Vinyl's horn and giggled. "Oh, very funny," Vinyl grumbled. "It's not just the size, you know?" "Shh! The play is starting!" Vinyl turned to face forward as the curtain was raised, before a small dragon scampered forward and grabbed the microphone. "Oh, they're getting Spike to do the commentary?" Vinyl peered down at the stage, before giving a small shrug. "He's not actually in the story, but hey, at least he still gets to be useful." "I wish they'd give him the spotlight once in a while," Octavia mused. "But maybe he's better just being supportive." "He's helped bring out the best in Twilight. Being supportive is not only what he does best, but what he loves most." The voice was soft, coming from somepony that was slowly approaching from behind them. Octavia and Vinyl turned to behold the arrival of Princess Luna, who was smiling at them with mild amusement. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." They shook their heads fervently, and got up, and were about to bow before Princess Luna when she waved them off with a hoof. "Neigh, my dear ponies. I'm here to enjoy the performance as you are. Formalities are only a way of keeping ponies apart, and tonight, there is no need for such things." "We'd love for you to join us, Princess," Octavia said, an easy smile coming across her face. "I think I might just do that." "That was awesome!" "Indeed." "Fluttershy played the Redwood so well, you'd think she was born for the part." "I've performed in front of small crowds and gotten more nervous than she did. She did magnificently." They slowly made their way towards Sugarcube Corner, the evening streets of Ponyville filled with ponies chatting about the play. "Starlight played a good Starswirl." Vinyl waved her hoof in the air, a big grin on her face. "Was that just an illusion, or did she actually poof up that giant boulder?" Octavia shrugged as she bumped Vinyl with her flank. "Don't tell me you're jealous?" "No way, filly," Vinyl laughed as she put a hoof over Octavia. "But I wonder if she could teach me that..." "You want to summon giant boulders?" "Um, duh. That way my concerts would always rock!" Whack! "Hey!" "Sometimes, Vinyl, you're just too much." "You know you love me." "Tis' true. I've fallen for Equestria's cheesiest DJ." They shared a small kiss, fully aware that ponies were watching them. Vinyl smirked as they parted, blowing a bit of her mane away from her face. "Let's not keep Pinkie waiting," Vinyl said with a goofy smile. "That reminds me... How did you get this set up on such short notice?" Vinyl laughed, giving a good-natured shake of her head. "I had to promise all sorts of strange things to her, things that I'd rather not discuss with an innocent mare such as yourself." "Do you even have an off button?" "Oh yeah. You already know where to find it!" "Vinyl..." Octavia said, but smiled all the same. Sugarcube Corner was brilliantly decorated that night, every fixture possible having been affixed with glowing treble clefs. "Wow, Vinyl. That's just... beautiful." "Still can't compete with you." Vinyl pressed close to Octavia as they strode up to the front door. "If you butter me up any more, I'm going to melt through the floor." "Sounds delicious." The conversation was put on hold as they entered the bakery. All the center tables had been pushed to the side to make room for an impromptu dancing area. Several ponies were already mingling to a recording of Sapphire Shore's latest hits, and others were enjoying the many treats that had been provided by Pinkie Pie. "Oh, there you two are!" The pink party pony herself popped up in front of them, her frizzy mane decorated with pieces of wrapped candy. She beamed at them, pulling them forward with her hooves. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Thanks for putting this together for me," Vinyl managed to say as they were brought to the middle of the stage. "Any reason to throw a party is good enough for me," Pinkie Pie said, and then bent down, her voice lowering significantly. "I put a lot more effort into this one, but don't tell the other parties that, okay?" "Don't worry, Pinkie. Your secret is safe with me." Octavia rolled her eyes, but still held a sincere smile on her face. "Pinkie, you really have a knack for making ponies happy," Octavia said as she gestured to their surroundings with a hoof. Pinkie Pie giggled and then pointed at Vinyl. "I think she could give me a run for my bits, though. She's got something super sweet cooked up, right?" "Don't ruin the surprise." Pinkie Pie covered mouth with a hoof. Funny enough, said hoof was white and attached to a confused white unicorn. "Oh, hey, Rarity," Pinkie Pie said, giving Rarity her hoof back. "The play was great! Your costumes are always so amazing!" "Thank you, darling." "Oh, I need to go get something ready. I'll be back in a bit!" Then she winked at Vinyl and took off towards the kitchen. "What was that about?" Octavia asked, blinking in confusion. "It's just Pinkie Pie, dear. It's best to not to think about it." Rarity levitated a bite-sized pastry over and nibbled on it gently. "I hope you all enjoyed the play." "It was spectacular," Octavia responded. "I wish Twilight was here so we could thank her properly." "Unfortunately, she's lecturing Starlight right now... Something about the difference between creating matter and teleporting it from afar." "Sounds complicated," Vinyl said before chuckling. "I bet they're loving every moment." "Those ponies and their spells," Rarity mused. Then the lights dimmed slightly as Pinkie stepped out onto the dance floor, and bounced up to the record player. She popped the needle off with her nose and pulled out a shiny new record from inside her mane, set it down carefully, and then spun herself around. "And now the coolest new hit, straight from Ponyville's own Vinyl Scratch!" The small crowd of ponies stomped and cheered as Pinkie lowered the needle down. A powerful beat started pulsing through the bakery, followed by a catchy electric rhythm. Octavia's smile faded slightly as she looked at Vinyl. "I'll try and stay as long as I can bear it." Vinyl shook her head, smiling as Pinkie Pie trotted over with a small blue box. "I wrote this song for you, Octavia." Her horn glowed, the box popping open. Out floated a pair of polished grey headphones, complete with a treble clef carved elegantly onto both sides. "What's this?" Octavia reached out and took it with her hooves. "I suppose it might help a little, but..." "Just put 'em on, filly." Octavia didn't hesitate, sliding them over her ears. They fit comfortably and were even warm and fuzzy on the inside. What made Octavia stop, though, was what she heard. The music had... changed somehow. What she heard now, while similar in its rhythm, was the beautiful sound of a cello, playing powerfully into her mind. "What..." But she stopped once again, the music striking through her like she'd never felt. It was strange at first, but soon she realized it was her own cello, being played back to her. The thing that really mesmerized her, though, was that she didn't know the song. Here and there, she could hear the special little flourishes she gave to certain notes and chords, but the arrangement... "Vinyl," Octavia called out, pulling the headset off. "What is this?" "It's a special little something I whipped up earlier." Vinyl grinned broadly. "I got those," Vinyl pointed a hoof at the headphones, and then continued, "specially made by some special ponies to filter out everything but certain sounds." Then she gestured to the record behind her. "It's actually part of the song playing right now." "You're serious?" "It makes for a sick mix, Octy, trust me." Vinyl enveloped the headphones with her magic, giving them a small twirl as she continued. "These let you hear what's really special about the song." "You mean..." Octavia started. "Yeah. A part of you, babe. I finally found a way for our music to be together." "It's beautiful, Vinyl. You're beautiful, you know that?" "With you to inspire me, it's hard not to shine." "One more cheesy line from you and I'll have you tuning my cello for the next month." "Is that a promise?" Octavia stepped close, her tail curling around Vinyl's waist. Her breath tickled Vinyl's ear as she closed the distance, her nose pushing into Vinyl's mane. "A Pinkie Promise." Author's Note And there we have it folks. I'm sorry if anypony wanted it to go a bit longer, but this felt like a good place to wrap up this little tale. More stories coming from me soon, so don't you worry too much As always, comments and critiques are welcome and appreciated. With love and dedication, Dreams of Ponies
