Herding Inquiries

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Herd meeting
Chapter 2 - The following week
Chapter 3 - Media frenzy
Epilogue - Settling in

Chapter 1 - Herd meeting

Octavia Melody scrunched her face in thought as she read the newspaper article that had caught her attention. Then her head tilted a bit, a brow rose, and a small smirk came over her muzzle. Reaching for her teacup, she drank from it while keeping her eye on her reading.

“How quaint,” she mused to herself and put the cup back down. Then she glanced over the paper to look at the pony sitting opposite the table. “Sis, have you read this?”

The mare sighed when there was no response. Vinyl Scratch, or DJ P0N-3 as she was better known, showed no indication she had even noticed being addressed, banging to the music on her earphones as the white pony ate her breakfast with her usual gusto.

“Vinyl!” Octavia raised her voice, which had some effect. Vinyl finally looked at her. The grayish pony turned the paper towards her and simply patted firmly the article of the paper with a hoof.

“Getting a decent discussion out you can be such a bother sometimes,” Octavia grunted with a slight huff. Maybe she was used to this by now, but it didn’t change the fact it could be annoying. “They are actually writing about a new herd being created.”

Vinyl turned the music down on her headphones and tilted her head curiously. That was all her sister needed to know she should continue. This had obviously caught Vinyl’s attention as well.

“So rare these days. I think our family was the only officially registered herd in existence,” Octavia remarked, getting a nod in agreement from the other pony. The cellist turned the paper back to read from it.

“Herds were a form of marriage of earth ponies in ancient times - especially among farming communities. They are extremely rare today and considered a rather eccentric form of relationship. Not banned or discouraged, but certainly not something you hear about in your everyday life. Fillydelphia now sees its first in a very long time, with the union of three ponies who have decided to officiate their relationship to that of a herd,” she read part of the article to her sister.

“Huh, wonder if they are opening an application period for it?” Octavia mused, dropping the paper down to the table.

Vinyl gave her an uncertain look, then reached over to get a better look at the paper. No picture followed the article, so there was no indication of which ponies it was forming this very old, ancient custom that barely any pony today actually followed.

The unicorn shrugged and sat back properly, put on the music again, and returned to her breakfast. The earth pony, in the meantime, was still rubbing her muzzle in thought, considering the article in the paper.

“It would certainly be…Vinyl!”

Vinyl sighed, turned down the music again, and looked at Octavia, who was staring at her once more. Her sister was clearly insisting on having a conversation about this.

“It would certainly be interesting to see if they want a new member,” Octavia said, grinning at the unimpressed look coming from the unicorn in front of her. The earth pony made a circle with her hoof in the air. “You would finally get me out of the house.”

At that, Vinyl arched her brow and looked around. They were currently sitting in Octavia’s part of the house, which was, as far as the unicorn thought, very boring. It had a stand for Octavia’s cello, a piano, and a fancy couch. The earth pony used old-style lamps to light things up. Vinyl’s part was in contrast modern, with modern lamps, her electric keyboards, and a large bass system.

Still, it was a home she shared with her sister and the thought of one of them leaving was a little weird. Despite her refined look and taste in music, Octavia wasn’t above doing things differently, even combining her musical talents with Vinyl’s to put on shows. Yet if there was one thing Vinyl knew, if Octavia got an idea, she would follow through on it. Nothing would stop her, so the techno pony just shrugged to show she didn’t mind all that much.

Morning breakfast might even be a little more audible, Octavia held back a sigh. She loved her sister dearly, but she had to admit these one-sided discussions were becoming a little repetitive. Vinyl was not a mare of many words and seemed fairly content on just expressing herself with her music or just mute signals.

Octavia returned to the paper to read further on. To her dismay, there wasn’t too much more information on this herd. She wondered why. Since it was being made official and was so rare, the mare would have thought names and photos of the ponies in question would be plastered all over.

“Well, I think I will do a little research…” Octavia fell silent when seeing that Vinyl had already departed the table and gone to her half of the house to work on her bass.

“Thank you for your insightful commentary, sis,” the earth pony muttered. After cleaning up breakfast, she left the house and headed for Ponyville train station.

“I just can’t help feeling like I’m talking to myself all day. I don’t meet my band all that often any more - especially after my solo career took off like a rocket. Sometimes I’m not always sure she’s listening with those headphones on her head all day,” Octavia groused and eyed the passing scenery from the train car window.

“I mean, I love my sister very much, but when we agreed to split a house together, I was hoping we could talk more often. We got so little of that when we were first starting - she with the modern form of electric music and me with my band and doing solo work.” The mare sighed heavily and turned to the stallion sitting on the bench in front of her. So far he only had a neutral expression on his face, but Octavia could tell by his eyes that he was listening.

“So, sorry to go off on you like that. I just needed to speak to someone, anyone.” Octavia felt a little embarrassed. She had hidden her annoyance so well that the mare had just started to automatically rant to her fellow passenger the moment she got on the train.

“Uh, sure,” the unicorn muttered.

Octavia gave him a look; she had barely caught his response. The stallion was dark gray and had a blonde mane and tail, his hooves were brown and there was a book image on his flank.

“You look familiar. I think I’ve seen you around Ponyville before…with a black filly?” The mare continued to look the pony over. He still carried that unreadable expression.

“Dropping my niece off to see her half-sister,” the unicorn simply mumbled.

Octavia raised her brow a little. No she had not been mistaken. There was a hint of nervousness in that voice. She also noted that he spoke quietly and dryly, like somebody not used to speaking too much.

“So, you’re not from Ponyville?” she asked. This time the stallion just shook his head. “Since this train is going to Fillydelphia, you’re from there?”

The unicorn nodded. Octavia hid a grin. Fillydelphia was a much larger town than Ponyville, but chances were that the inhabitants would still know of any local events. She had planned to see if any of the local papers had anything more on the herd, even the names of the ponies in it.

“So, I take it you have heard of the recent unorthodox union happening there?” she asked curiously, noting the unicorn immediately shifting ever so slightly in his seat. Slowly the stallion nodded.

“I apologize for dropping on you like this with that, but I just read about it in the paper this morning. It really caught my attention since I grew up in a herd myself. Not many know that unless they really go digging into my back history. So, seeing a new herd being officially announced thrilled me,” Octavia started to ramble excitingly.

“Herd are so rare these days, at least the official ones. Usually, nowadays it’s more just ponies being in open relationships and jokingly calling them herds. But an actually confirmed herd, it just doesn’t happen so often. Monogamous relationships are so boring. Ponies are herd animals; we need company…and I’m so sorry, I’m going off again, aren’t I?” the mare caught herself again. The unicorn just politely nodded.

“You wouldn’t know who the ponies are that made this herd? Oh, what am I saying? Just because you are from Fillydelphia, it doesn’t mean you just know everypony there…do you?” Octavia cringed a little, realizing again she was talking to a stranger about stuff the mare had no idea he was even interested in.

The unicorn was still silent, but his neutral expression was gone. He seemed caught off guard now. He started to look around and Octavia felt embarrassed, wondering if the poor guy was trying to see if he could escape to another seat.

Maybe that’s why Vinyl just remains silent. I talk too much, the mare wondered if she should apologize again.

“Um…” came from the unicorn and Octavia braced herself, worried she had made a complete fool of herself. “I’m part of that herd.”

The cellist blinked and for once was the one silent as she processed that information. Octavia also couldn’t believe her luck; she was face to face with the herd's stallion. Now she couldn’t help but wonder what mares had agreed to form it with him. She was very intrigued, but her previous embarrassment was high on her mind. She had basically just started to ramble on the poor guy just because she had been annoyed by her sister.

“Sorry… I don’t like talking too much, uh…I’m a big fan, Miss Melody.” The unicorn still spoke in a dry tone and looked downwards.

“Oh, you’re a fan?” Octavia thought she now understood why she detected nervousness in the stallion’s voice. He had probably been stunned that she had chosen a seat right opposite him. Then felt very awkward that she just started pouring her grievance about Vinyl on top of him.

It will be a little awkward asking about applications now. Octavia could just picture how well that would go if she tried.

“I like your music. I own all your solo albums,” the unicorn mumbled as if responding to her question.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoy them,” Octavia smiled, hoping she hadn’t completely shattered the guy’s perception of her. Figuring this was probably a topic he was more comfortable talking about, she decided to steer away from the herd talk for now. “Any, in particular, you especially like?”

“Uh, War of the Windigos, Commander Hurricane’s last battle, The Shame of Saddle Arabia,” the stallion quietly counted.

“Oh, my historical pieces. I really did enjoy composing some of those. I originally did some of them for the band, but the other members didn’t feel it fit for festivals and balls, which is where we usually play. So, I tried doing them solo instead,” Octavia nodded.

“Next stop Fillydelphia!” came a shouting announcement.

“Ah, guess that’s our stop.” Octavia peeked out of the window and could see the train station in the distance. The unicorn just nodded.

“Um… so you’re really interested in my herd?” the stallion quietly asked now with an unsure expression.

Octavia cringed inwardly; this was supposed to be a covert reconnaissance. Find out the names, maybe where they lived, then maybe check out if there were any signs this was a herd that wanted to expand. Meeting one of them just right on the train had not quite been the plan.

“Yes but…I really should be talking with your head mare about what I want to ask and she would bring it up to you, you know.” Octavia smiled as she looked at the stallion who gave her a blank expression in turn.

“Head mare?” he sounded genuinely confused.

“Yes, your senior mare.” The cellist arched her eyebrow when the unicorn looked even more confused. “You do know how herds work, right?”

“It’s a group of more than two ponies who form a relationship?” the unicorn didn’t sound so sure in his response.

“Um, it’s a little more than that…” Octavia wondered if the ponies involved had decided to just call it a herd out of a lark. “Who are the mares in the herd?”

“Uh mare, only one,” was the unicorn’s answer, catching the earth pony completely off guard. “The other one is a stallion. Well, there is a foal also, but he was born before we decided to form it.”

Now I really want to meet this herd. Octavia blinked. Two stallions in a herd? Unless it was father and son, foals were junior members and were generally not counted within the rank structure since they eventually left it.

Before she could inquire further, the train started to halt and the conductor announced again what the stop was. The unicorn started to walk to the exit, but did glance back at her. Octavia took it as an invitation to follow.

As they left the train car, she heard a clear voice. “There’s daddy.”

Octavia saw a blue pegasus mare with a candy cane striped mane approach them. She held a blue colt, looking just under a year old. The boy was babbling happily as he reached with his hooves towards the unicorn stallion.

The cellist watched as the unicorn happily accepted his son to give him a hug, then proceeded to nuzzle the mare who returned it. She remained silent, wondering if she would be introduced. The earth pony then noticed a much bigger unicorn approaching as well.

Oh my. Octavia’s jaw dropped. She of course recognized King Sombra. The black flowing mane and tail, the dark gray coat, and the red knife-like horn were unmistakable. What was different was that he wore a black silk robe with white trims instead of a crown and a cape.

“Oh, this is Octavia, you know the cellist.” The smaller unicorn stallion finally turned to Octavia. He had placed the colt on his back. The mare and Sombra looked at her. “She is interested in our herd.”

Now I really need to know why they left out names. Octavia managed to close her mouth just in time and smile politely. She wasn’t sure how to take the skeptical look Sombra gave her.

Sitting in the kitchen of a house in the suburbs of Fillydelphia, Octavia took a moment to savor the tea from her cup. She was actually in the home of the herd she had read about and by pure luck met on her way to the city. The mare of the herd, Dew Doe, as she learned her name was, sat across from her, explaining things.

“Well, it started two or three months ago. Sombra and Private started to go on dates. My marriage to Private was an open one because I didn’t want to deprive him of the opportunity to be with a stallion as well. Despite their past and Sombra did tread very carefully, they did start to hit off, but so far it was mostly just them being close. What I wasn’t expecting was Sombra starting to ask me out on dates.” Dew Doe shook her head. Just at that moment, Sombra walked past the kitchen entrance.

“I didn’t hear you complain,” the unicorn remarked and just chuckled when the blue pegasus stuck her tongue out at him. He continued further into the house.

“That old-fashioned dork won me over. Well, the dates were more apologies to me for his past behavior and he wasn’t expecting them to be anything else. Then I just started to really see what Private saw in him, and I started to want more and well here we are, in a herd,” Dew Doe shrugged.

Octavia wondered if there was more to this, but didn’t want to pry. After all, she was an outsider to this family. She was just trying to get a little peek in, but if anything, her curiosity had grown tenfold. She really had to curb the more invasive questions forming in her head.

“I did have an opportunity to talk with Private on the train about your herd. I take it you are not that familiar with how they work?” Octavia asked, hiding a chuckle when Dew grinned rather innocently. At least she wasn’t offended by that question.

“Oh, is it that obvious?” the pegasus giggled and took a sip from her cup. “Yes, we got a little cross-eyed going through the registration forms. They of course assumed the herd would be a stallion and at least two mares, not two stallions and a single mare. Thankfully city hall was very accommodating and adjusted the paperwork for us. Mayor Filibuster absolutely insisted on officiating the ceremony.”

“That brings me to another thing I was curious about. Why didn’t the papers name any names?” Octavia asked. “I mean with King Sombra…”

“Former King!” came a half-annoyed declaration from somewhere.

Octavia gave the kitchen entrance a look. She was a little surprised at hearing Sombra say that. “Erm…with Sombra in this marriage, I would have thought the papers would be all over this.”

“The walls here are paper thin, sorry, plus his hearing is razor sharp.” Dew Doe shook her head but chuckled. She had been thinking over Octavia’s question when Sombra so firmly corrected their guest.

“Was it the Ponyville Express that you read?” the pegasus asked.

“Uh yes,” Octavia confirmed and saw that this seemed to explain everything for Dew.

“Yeah, they are banned. Mom hates that paper. Guess they couldn’t resist at least touching on it, but were careful not naming any names and showing any photos.” Dew Doe chuckled when she saw the confused look Octavia gave her. “My mom is Sky Dive,” she added.

This caused the cellist to nearly spit out the mouthful of tea she had just drunk. After barely managing to swallow it, she looked at the pegasus shocked. “You’re Sky Dive’s daughter?”

That explains it then, Octavia thought when receiving a positive nod in response. Sky Dive was infamous in high society circles for viciously protecting her private life and that of her daughters.

The earth mare took a moment to look around. She noted that the kitchen was pretty modest and though the building was two-story, it wasn’t exactly glamorous-looking, just a fairly neat, quaint little house out in the suburbs. “What is it that you do?”

“I'm a therapist. I used to be a nurse, then went into social work, but opened up my own therapy office a few months before Blue Axe was born,” Dew Doe explained and chuckled. “I like helping ponies, I just couldn’t decide how to go about it. I think I’ve finally settled it, though.”

Octavia nodded; she hadn’t needed to go into what she did. She had a good feeling that if Private was a fan of hers, Dew Doe already knew.

“So, um… is this herd open for expansion?” she carefully asked, kind of expecting just to be thrown out. This didn’t sound like a conventional herd after all.

“Expansion?” Dew Doe looked very confused now.

Well, here goes nothing. Octavia thought, since her rump wasn’t kissing the pavement outside, she figured the pegasus wanted an elaboration.

“Generally, when herds first form, they do start small, but expand a little over time. It can be for various reasons, but often it is through an open application period that lasts maybe a year or so,” she explained, still expecting Sombra to be called in to toss her out.

“Uh Sombra,” Dew Doe called. Octavia grimaced, fearing that moment was now. The dark unicorn arrived at the kitchen entrance.

“Could you get the copy of the herd registration form we got?” the pegasus asked. “Octavia was asking about expansion.”

“Huh, read something about it there. They told us it was optional,” Sombra muttered, but summoned several papers with his magic and gave them over to Dew Doe. Then he simply walked out.

Octavia held her breath while Dew Doe looked through the papers. She hadn’t been kicked out. If anything this had piqued their curiosity. The cellist hoped that was a good thing.

“Let’s see, oh expansion of the herd. We didn’t check that, but we didn’t check either for a closed herd. Let’s see.” Dew Doe picked out a note from the papers. “The expansion option is optional; you can add it in at a later date if you wish.”

“Wait, you want to join the herd?” A lightbulb had clearly lit up in Dew Doe’s head as she looked at Octavia, unsure.

“I am so sorry,” Octavia put down her cup and rubbed her forehead with a hoof. “Barging in on you like that with this kind of proposal was not my intention.”

“I was going to first inquire about your herd and hear from the grapevine if you had an open application period. If so then I was…yes considering it,” she sighed and lowered her head, feeling very embarrassed.

“Oh wow, lucky for you Private was on the train coming from Manehattan visiting his brother.” Dew Doe chuckled while stacking the papers up in a neat pile on the kitchen table.

Octavia looked up, then it dawned on her that Private hadn’t boarded the train. He had already been seated. She had been taking the Manehattan express, which did stop in Ponyville.

“Can I ask why you are interested in joining our herd?” the pegasus asked. She didn’t seem put off. More curious than anything. That relaxed Octavia a little bit.

“I grew up in a herd. It was the only officially registered herd in Equestria in a long time. Dad and two of his friends started it and my third herd mother joined in during the application period. It’s a life I knew, even if my sister and I were junior members. So, hearing of a new one sparked both my curiosity and…” the earth mare fell silent.

“I’ve kind of lately wanted to move out. I love my sister, but sometimes it feels like I’m just living alone. Vinyl isn’t a mare of many words and talking with her can be a bit one-sided. Sometimes it feels like she isn’t listening. I want to change something, but I don’t want to force her to change just because I’m feeling lonely,” Octavia then confessed.

“Oh…. I should warn you then. Private can be very silent, then again he talks more when he feels comfortable…oh right, he’s a fan of yours. He was probably screaming internally in joy when you sat opposite him on the train,” Dew Doe smiled and glanced out of the kitchen. “He's probably rummaging right now through the albums to find one for you to sign.”

Octavia giggled; she did recall Private saying that he didn’t like to speak much. Yet she could give him that. He at least looked like he was listening and eventually did respond to her. Then again as Dew pointed out, he was a fan of her music.

“Now I should explain herd applications since you do seem unfamiliar with them,” Octavia said prompting Dew Doe to nod, no doubt thinking the same.

“It’s not necessarily for romantic partnership, though that can come later. Granted in the ancient days, herds were formed to make big families, especially in farming communities where many hooves were needed. The new applicant is more just looking for a new community to join, if that makes any sense. This custom is so ancient and so rare that this has been kind of lost in translation,” the cellist started.

“Yes, this is a form of marriage, but weren’t you a little surprised that even if you were already married to Private that you could just start adding others into it?” Octavia then inquired. This made the pegasus think for a moment before nodding.

“I thought that was a little odd, but since we were already going to have it an open marriage, I didn’t think that much about it,” she admitted.

“Yeah, that was what dad and his friends were originally just doing. They didn’t want quite to call it marriage; they just lived together and wanted to continue living together and forming some sort of a union made things easier legally. So, they decided to form a herd, then the romance started. My third herd mother came in later, she was just looking for a new place to live and things went from there,” Octavia continued to explain.

“Think of it more as me wanting to move to Fillydelphia, but instead of just buying and renting a house and moving in there and later making friends. I’m kind of jumping ahead a little with the friend things before I move over, you get what I mean?” Octavia wasn’t sure she was doing a good job of saying what she wanted. She had a clear idea in her mind, but saying it out loud made it sound a little off.

“I think,” Dew furrowed her brow. “So, it’s not like, hey welcome to the herd, come right in. This will be a process, we’ll see if you do fit in, get to know you better, and all that.”

“Of course, it would only be proper. You can’t just accept anyone willy-nilly. A herd is a family after all. This could take weeks, even months and the final decision is on you all,” Octavia assured her.

“It is certainly an interesting proposal. I have to admit I never really considered there was so much to being a herd,” Dew Doe furrowed her brow as she rubbed her muzzle in thought.

“Guess that’s the main thing I would contribute to it, my experience of being in a herd, albeit as a junior member,” Octavia giggled a little. The pegasus nodded in agreement.

“We are probably going to have to discuss this together first, then hear from you later,” Dew Doe said, still clearly thinking this over.

“Naturally. Again, I’m sorry for just barging in on you all with this. I honestly didn’t even expect to get this far today. As you said, I lucked out that Private was on the same train as me,” Octavia giggled. Dew Doe smiled in response.

Author's Note

Yes, Octavia and Vinyl are siblings here. You can all blame Commander Firebrand over at FOB Equestria for that. In his Taking Slice of Life too seriously, he theorized that Octavia and Vinyl's housing setup looked more like that of siblings. I just took that headcanon and have been running with it since.

Also I'm using both Vinyl's fanon name and her canon name. Vinyl is what family and friends use and Dj P0N-3 is her stage name.

Chapter 2 - The following week

When Octavia returned to her house in Ponyville, she immediately noted how quiet it was. When she entered, her sister was nowhere to be seen. Probably not at home. The earth mare closed the door and went over to her cello.

The cellist took her instrument off the stand and rose to her hind legs so she could play it, using the cello to keep balance on two legs. Octavia closed her eyes as she began playing a random score from the vast repertoire of her mind.

Octavia wasn’t really sure how well this had gone. Sure this eccentric herd had been surprisingly nice. Dew Doe had been accommodating and patient with her questions, even curious herself when Octavia had brought up the application process. She hadn’t really met Sombra that much, but her mind just couldn’t escape the train tip.

As far as she was concerned, that had been a major gaffe. Even if Private was a fan of her music, it couldn’t have been easy for him to meet an idol who would without prompt, pour out her annoyances in life all over him.

Of course I blew it. I met them far sooner than I had planned, she thought. This was something that required guile, finesse, and careful planning. Not just dropping in them going: ‘Hey I heard you have a herd, can I join?’ blunder like I ended up doing.

“Ugh, music, you are failing to soothe me,” Octavia grumbled. She stopped playing and leaned now a bit on her cello. Ugh and Dew was so cute too, and Sombra... good grief, talk about tall dark, and handsome… Private, eh not too bad, a little scruffy looking, but I’ve dated worse, far worse.

Could you imagine the headlines though? The cultured and refined Octavia joins in herd union with King Sombra! Octavia grinned which dropped quickly. Yeah more like ‘Octavia’s blunder of the year.’

“Oh, if they only knew what I do in my off-time,” she snickered and tried playing again, switching to one of her historical pieces that Private had mentioned were among his favorites.

The front door opened and in came Vinyl Scratch, nodding her head to the music blasting away in her earphones. Octavia didn’t bother looking over, knowing by now her sister wouldn’t notice any greetings. As she suspected, the white unicorn went straight to her side of the house without even looking towards her.

It’s just a routine by now. It feels more like we are just two strangers who happen to share a house, Octavia thought, trying very hard not to show her irritation in her playing.

“Face it, Octavia, you blew your chance,” she muttered and switched to another song.

She didn’t notice that Vinyl was watching her play while sitting on a chair in her section of the house. The unicorn had switched off the music in her headphones. The techno pony noticed more intensity in the cello music and Vinyl knew that only meant her sister was annoyed or frustrated by something.

Vinyl glanced at the paper from this morning, which still lay on the kitchen table. Octavia often kept it there for later to do crosswords and other puzzles. That wasn’t on the unicorn’s mind. Silently she walked over to pick it up and unfolded it, she reached the page with the herd announcement.

Frowning a little, the unicorn glanced at her sister while refolding the paper and replacing it on the table. Then without a word left the house again.

Octavia in the meantime, stopped playing and groaned in frustration. Usually playing helped calm her down, but this time it wasn’t working. Irritated, the pony dropped down to all fours and replaced the cello on the stand. With an annoyed grunt, she went to her bedroom, slamming it shut behind her.

The cellist didn’t come out of her room until the next morning. Grumbling and mumbling the earth pony went to the bathroom to clean up. She heard no signs of her sister, so Octavia figured Vinyl was either still sleeping or had gone out.

Band rehearsal next weekend. A recording in a few days, ugh better make an appointment at the spa for a hooficure and mane treatment. I think they need a new photo for the next album. She went over her schedule while brushing her mane and applied her pink bowtie around her neck. Maybe go to Rarity’s for a new dress. They probably want something new.

“Time to drop back into the routine. Break’s over, Octi,” she grunted and put the brush back and left the bathroom to go to the kitchen for much-needed tea and breakfast.

Over the next few days, ponies that knew Octavia were starting to notice she seemed more irritable. She was a little more curt than usual. At the recording for her next solo album, the director had to ask her several times to tone the intensity down. Nobody understood why she left the studio seething. Her agent barely dared remind her that she did in fact need a new dress for the album cover.

“Darling, you need to relax more. You are too stiff,” Rarity gently instructed the earth pony as she was being fitted for a new dress intended for the album.

“I’m trying,” Octavia grunted, took a deep breath and tried to relax her entire body.

“Better. Now, I understand the theme for your next album is spring and summer?” the fashionista inquired, arching a brow when only getting a curt nod in response.

“I do think this is quite fitting, yellow for the summer and green for spring,” Rarity said, doing her best to fit the yellow and green dress on the earth pony.

“Yeah sure,” Octavia just mumbled, causing Rarity to pause again. The cellist could usually talk and talk about her upcoming solo albums. She was also a highly valued customer for the unicorn, so the fashion pony didn’t want to make any comments that might set off more of whatever bad mood Octavia was in.

“Well, if you are satisfied, I will have it sent to the photo studio,” Rarity announced and helped the cellist out of the dress.

“Right,” Octavia just said and stomped out of the boutique without another word, leaving Rarity a little dumbfounded.

Octavia was well aware that she was in an unusually bad mood and was straining not to show it. She just still felt bad about her conduct in Fillydelphia. Felt like she had just barged in on a family, very much uninvited, and just threw them a question they quite possibly weren’t even considering at all.

Quite honestly, she felt rotten and wasn’t surprised at all she hadn’t heard back from the herd. Octavia was seriously considering calling in sick for band rehearsal, worrying now that her mood would just ruin the band cohesion and they wouldn’t really manage to practice much at all. She couldn’t let her bandmates suffer for her blunders.

Yet she couldn’t just get out of her mind this opportunity she had thrown away. Previous relationships had just fallen flat because she thought they were too boring, too monotonous. But no pony she had tried was game for an open relationship or a herd.

Her sister didn’t even date at all. Octavia suspected she just wasn’t interested. Vinyl was very focused on her music.

Octavia gave a weary sigh when she finally reached her house, resigning herself to another non-conversational rest of the day. She did take a moment to check the mail and saw that there were a few letters and a telegram. She grabbed it all in her mouth from the post box and went inside the house, dropping everything on the coffee table.

“Oh, it’s for me?” The earth pony noticed that one of the letters had her name. The rest and the telegram were marked with Vinyl’s stage name.

Probably a fan letter, Octavia thought. She often got those. They hadn’t cheered her up so far, but she might as well read it since someone had gone through the trouble of writing her. She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter to read it. As she did, her eyes opened wider and wider.

Dear Octavia Melody.

After discussing things and doing tiny more research, we have decided to accept your application to join our herd. We would like to conduct a more proper interview and start the more formal process to see if you can be accepted, as you yourself explained to us.

Please let us know when it’s convenient for you to come to see us again.

Dew Doe

“Oh my Celestia I need to catch a train… “ Octavia started to shout but immediately fell silent and tried to calm herself down. “No, no we’ll do this properly. I’ll send them a telegram.”

With that Octavia ran out of the house, not spotting Vinyl peeking out from her bedroom with a small smile. The unicorn snuck out and went to the coffee table and picked up the telegram.

DJ P0N-3

Thanks for your input. It greatly helped us in our decision. As requested, we sent this telegram to let you know we’ve sent the letter.

Dew

With a silent chuckle, Vinyl gathered up the rest of the letters and disappeared back into her room.

“I swear I thought I blew it. I mean I practically barged in on you all,” Octavia confessed and took a long gulp from her teacup. This time she was sitting on a chair in the living room of the herd’s house. Across her on a couch sat Dew and Private.

“Not to mention how I behaved with you, Private, on the train. I’m still really sorry about that,” she then added. There came a small grunt from the unicorn.

“That means it’s okay,” Dew quickly translated.

“I somehow had a feeling. I’m not too bad at reading silent ponies,” Octavia grinned. The interview was mostly over. They had discussed who Octavia was, her work, and her family. She was also told about Dew Doe, Private and Sombra.

“Now I have to confess that Private has abstained from voting on this, as he feels he’s too biased,” the pegasus explained and eyed the unicorn who hung his head, looking mildly embarrassed.

Gee, I wonder why. Octavia chuckled to herself. From where she was sitting she could see the gramophone and that many of the albums had her image on them. Well, he gets a big brownie point for being a fan.

“Personally, I’m not too conflicted about this. Might be nice to have someone new in the house. My sister used to live here, but decided to move out shortly after Private and I got married. She met a guard during the ceremony named Blackberry. They live in the Crystal Empire now,” Dew explained and smiled a bit. “So honestly it’s Sombra who you need to convince. I’m such a 'let’s just do it pony' sometimes that you would just be moving in tomorrow if only I were making the decisions.”

“Yes, let’s take it slowly. It’s only the first interview after all,” Octavia chuckled and looked around. “Speaking of?”

“He has a meeting with mom and her stockbroker. They are helping him invest some of his gambling winnings, so he has an income. Sombra isn’t exactly a job market candidate, so he’s trying to at least earn some form of an income,” Dew Doe explained, then rolled her eyes. “And keep him away from Las Pegasus. I think he’s developed an addiction to it.”

Octavia nodded; she could see that. What she knew of King Sombra, the mare couldn’t quite picture him getting jobs easily. Granted she could picture him as a bodyguard. Though if he agreed to it, that was another matter.

“By the way, I should confess. Your sister helped us a lot in making our decision,” Dew Doe then said. This time Octavia spit out her mouthful of tea.

“Excuse me, what!?” the cellist wasn’t sure she had heard that correctly. Private had already dropped to the floor to clean up the spill with some paper tissue.

“Your sister. She came over a few days ago while we were still mulling over your proposal,” the pegasus explained and smiled. “She seemed very concerned about you.”

“She…concerned?” Octavia grimaced and was starting to feel terrible. She had somehow completely forgotten how observant Vinyl could be. Sure she could look oblivious with these heavily tinted goggles and headphones covering her ears. Yet she was always watching, even if she never made much noise about it.

While she thought over this revelation, Dew Doe was called away by a wail from upstairs. The pegasus quickly rushed off to take care of the newly awoken foal. Private offered to pour Octavia more tea, which the earth pony accepted.

Octavia started feeling guilty over being annoyed at her sister’s silence. The cellist was sure now that Vinyl had been listening far more than she gave her credit for. That made her even guiltier for having ranted about her to Private, who at the time had been a stranger.

“I have just been making a complete fool out of myself for no reason at all, haven’t I?” she finally sighed. Private shook his head.

“Surely I should know by now that my sister doesn’t like small talk and conversations,” Octavia groused, figuring she knew what the stallion meant by that. His only response was to grab a picture from a shelf and show it to her. It was of him and another unicorn, nearly identical except the other had indigo eyes instead of blue and his mane was trimmed.

“Oh, that’s your brother?” the earth pony asked. Now Private nodded. The cellist raised her brow a little. “You drive him nuts also with how little you talk?”

When Private just simply nodded again, Octavia couldn’t help but giggle. This was reminding her just so much how her conversations usually went with Vinyl. She talked and her sister just either nodded, shook her head, or pointed at things.

“Granted. I think your sister has me beat in the silence department,” Private quietly said and allowed himself a small smile. “And they at the museum where I work say I can out-silence the statues there.”

Octavia giggled at that statement. She could see what the ponies at the museum meant. During the actual interview, Private had in fact not spoken a single word. It had all been her and Dew Doe. Yet she felt that Private’s silence was different. She just couldn’t quite put her hoof on it.

The front door opened and slammed shut. The two ponies didn’t need to wonder for too long what was going on; Sombra walked in looking frazzled, his eyes twitching a little.

“Um, you alright?” Octavia asked. Even Private looked a little surprised seeing the dark pony like that.

“Numbers and again numbers….” Sombra growled and just sat down where he stood on the floor. “I enjoy mathematics, but this was ridiculous.”

Then something happened that confused the earth pony. Sombra suddenly glared over at Private as if something had been said, though no words were spoken. Then the dark pony assumed a more serious expression and looked at Octavia.

“But never mind that. I take it then that you have been interviewed by Private and Dew Doe,” Sombra addressed her. Octavia nodded, but before she could say anything else, the large unicorn was already rising to his hooves and heading out of the living room.

“When you believe you are ready, talk with me in my study,” he said and soon could be heard walking up the stairs to the second floor.

Octavia wasn’t quite sure how to read into this. Sombra sounded very guarded to her, she saw that Private was shaking his head a little.

“Sorry, Sombra is still a work in process,” Private muttered just as Dew Doe returned to the living room.

“I see tall dark and grumpy has returned,” the pegasus lightly remarked while getting seated again.

“Yes, apparently I am to report to his study for an interview with him.” Octavia figured she was starting to see what Dew had meant that it was him she would have to convince.

“Yes I should probably explain this one a little further before we send you to the 'dragon's den' to be scrutinized by our resident former dark lord,” Dew Doe chuckled. She looked much more relaxed compared to Private who had seemed more apologetic.

“As we have already told you in brief, our past history with Sombra is checkered. Very checkered. It’s only been in the past year things improved and we have been working on him to continue that improvement,” the pegasus continued and glanced at Private who was looking at her curiously. “Oh, Blue Axe latched onto his face and refused to let go, so Sombra just took him to his study.”

“That colt would tackle a dragon if we let him,” Dew said, then giggled for a moment before resuming a more serious look and returned her attention to Octavia, who patiently waited. Having already guessed that Private wanted to know where the colt was since the boy had clearly awoken from his nap.

“Sombra is guarded and wary of others. He still has trouble fully understanding why we have given him this chance, which is nothing sort of a miracle considering his past with us, especially Private. He is slowly coming along, but the best way to put it is, he just isn’t used to this kind of life.”

“I think I understand,” Octavia rubbed her muzzle in thought. Maybe he is wondering why anyone would want to join a herd with him in it.

Octavia approached the innermost door in the hallway of the second floor. That’s where she was told Sombra’s study was. Dew had already gone up to collect her son after Octavia decided she was ready to have this private talk with the dark pony. So, the cellist knew he was waiting.

The mare didn’t even need to knock; the door almost instantly opened. Within it, she could see Sombra sitting by a desk. On it rested a journal that he was currently scribbling in. She also noted that further inside was a workbench with chemistry equipment and other tools. Octavia assumed they had something to do with magical experiments. There were also shelves loaded with books and scrolls.

When Octavia fully stepped in, the door closed behind her. She noted there were toys in one corner, a clear indication that Blue Axe was allowed to play in there. The earth pony found it impressive that Sombra fully participated in the colt’s upbringing.

Sombra stopped writing, put the quill away and turned to face her. He looked very serious as he scrutinized the mare from the short distance between them.

“I hope you are aware that association with me will have consequences,” he stated flatly, then gestured to himself with a hoof. “It’s not been that long since I was locked up in Tartarus for my crimes.”

“Aware? I’m absolutely counting on it,” Octavia responded with a smile. She fought down a giggle when seeing the unicorn arch his brow.

“Okay, maybe counting on it isn’t quite the right phrase. Expecting it would be more proper,” she then conceded.

“Why are you interested in joining this herd?” Sombra asked. He was clearly suspicious, and Octavia couldn’t say she blamed him. It had to sound very strange that so shortly after he forms a herd with two ponies, there is suddenly this mare showing up wanting to join in.

Octavia took a moment to consider how to answer this one. Dew Doe had sounded very curious about it and even all for it in the end. Private was probably in a dazed ‘Octavia wants to join my herd!?’ mode. If anything, Sombra was being the most practical, scrutinizing her motives to join.

“Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with you being in it. I didn’t even know it was your herd until Private and I stepped off that train about a week ago. I was already committed back then to finding out who the ponies in the herd were and then seeing if they were open for expansion, no matter who they were,” Octavia decided to clarify first. Sombra still didn’t look too convinced, but his hard expression softened slightly.

“Publicly I may not look it, but I’m not very conventional. I grew up in a herd. I know how they work and it’s a family life I quite enjoyed and has kind of affected my own dating life,” the mare sighed. “Unfortunately for me, monogamy has become the prevalent rule of our society and most ponies wouldn’t even consider being in an open relationship. I’ve tried, believe me, but it never panned out.”

“Now don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that ponies are satisfied with just their one and true love. It just doesn’t work for me, I want options. However, starting a herd is more than just saying it. All individuals have to be on board with it,” she looked down for a moment. This was actually harder to justify in words than she had initially thought.

“I guess I’m trying to find ponies that are willing to put up with me and this is my last desperate gamble to do it?” Octavia looked at Sombra again. The dark pony was starting to look more thoughtful.

“Your sister certainly gave us an impression that you wanted a change of pace in your life,” Sombra muttered, then glanced towards the door. “Dew has been feeling a little lonely lately, she misses talking with her sister. I’m afraid neither Private nor I are great conversationalists.”

Oh, wow. Does Dew have the same problem as me? Is that why she seems so keen? Octavia tried so hard not to blink in surprise. This hadn’t come up at all during the interview in the living room.

“I sometimes wonder if I chased Foxy out by moving in here. They keep assuring me I didn’t. She hit it off well with that crystal pony she met during Dew and Private’s wedding and now they are living together in the Crystal Empire. It is a fair distance to travel for visits,” Sombra kept talking, though sounding more like he was talking to himself. Octavia wisely decided not to comment.

“Look, I’m not here to just invite myself in and just act like I’m already part of the family. This is something that needs time. General herd integration of a potential new member happens gradually. It will at first just be me visiting a lot more. You all get acquainted with me and vice versa. This will take weeks, if not months,” Octavia decided to tell him, worrying Sombra thought she was just rushing in. “If we all feel it is working out, then and only then will I move in and join officially.”

“My third herd mother took almost a year to be fully accepted in,” she then added as an afterthought. Octavia saw that Sombra looked at her more curiously now.

“That’s a term I’ve not heard before. Why do you call her your third herd mother?” he asked sounding somewhat interested.

“Because she was the third mare in the herd. My actual mother was my dad’s second; thus I refer to her as mom. The first mare is paradoxically thus my second herd mother. Then again, she would be referred to as the head mare anyway,” Octavia explained. “Since I’m a junior member of that herd, I don’t really have a rank. My sister is actually my half-sister or herd sibling. We have the same dad, but her mother is my third herd mother.”

“I see, so there is a ranking structure,” Sombra furrowed his brow as he considered this.

“Yes, in a traditional herd the mares are ranked, but given yours is not quite traditional, you stallions could have a rank. So, have you decided who is the second to the head?” the earth pony wondered and wasn’t surprised to see the dark pony shake his head.

“I guess ranking isn’t so critical while the herd is so small, but it can get important if it expands. The heads run the household, but need to be able to delegate duties. It is important to have a bit of structure in a union that has multiple adults in it,” she pointed out.

“That is a good point. I must confess, I really only agreed to this because Private and I were growing close, but I didn’t want him to have to choose between Dew Doe and myself. I knew I would lose. Those two are very closely bonded,” Sombra sighed a bit. “In turn, Dew had the same idea. She didn’t want to deprive Private of the opportunity to indulge in his nature to be attracted to stallions.”

“The fact that I was even allowed to participate is…” Sombra fell silent, then eyed Octavia.

“Very well, we’ll do it your way. You’ll begin visiting here and we’ll all get to know each other over time. If it works out, then you can join,” he said and used his magic to open the door.

Octavia took that as a sign that she was being dismissed, so she rose and walked out. The door closed quickly behind her. The mare couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had helped convince him to agree to the trial run that would now commence.

Well, Octi, you got one hoof in. Now to see if the rest of me will be able to squeeze through, she thought and started to trot towards the stairs. I should head home soon. I owe Vinyl a giant sister hug.

Chapter 3 - Media frenzy

“Octavia! Octavia! Any comments on the rumors you are trying to join the herd in Fillydelphia?”

Flash.

“Octavia, is it true you have been traveling to Fillydelphia a lot in the last few weeks?!”

Flash.

Octavia growled softly to herself as she made her way to the door, closing her eyes and averting her gaze from the blinding flash of the cameras. It was difficult enough to have to carry her cello case in her mouth without having to deal with all of this, yet she kept walking, ignoring the reporters and was very thankful the security guards kept them from following through the doors.

Once inside, she put down her case and let out a long, frustrated sigh. Then she noticed that two of her fellow band members were standing nearby, looking bewildered. Both stallions were staring at her with nervous expressions.

“What’s going on, Octavia?” Frederick Horseshoepin, the pianist, asked. The brownish pony gave the doors a glance as if he feared they would burst open.

“They kept trying to ask us questions about you,” Parish Nandermane, the harpist, told her. The purple pony didn’t sound much better than the pianist.

Octavia opened her mouth to answer, but the doors opening and slamming shut caused her to glance back. The last member of the band had arrived. Beauty Brass was standing on her hindlegs, her back hugging the doors with her forelegs also firmly against them. The light blue mare breathed heavily and looked very frazzled. Her sousaphone case lay discarded on the floor.

“What in Equestria is going on with these vultures?!” she exclaimed before sinking down to sit on her haunches. Then she noticed Octavia. “Why are they asking all these questions about you!?”

I don’t think Sombra meant this when he warned me of the consequences of associating with him, Octavia raised a hoof to rub her forehead tiredly.

“I’m sorry. It seems the news has gotten out that I’m trying to join that herd that was formed in Fillydelphia a few weeks ago,” the cellist explained.

“Seriously? My last dating attempts barely got a side column,” Beauty grunted and rose back up to her hooves. “What’s so special about this herd that the press is going wild over it?”

“Look, you know I can’t go into details while things are still not official,” Octavia said and grabbed up her cello case. “Let’s just say one member of that herd is associated with someone who has very vicious lawyers.”

Octavia had, of course, wanted to tell her friends and family of the latest happenings in her life, however, it turned out Sky Dive was as protective of her daughters as her reputation had claimed. Shortly after the first interview, the cellist had been approached by Dew’s mother.

Sky Dive explained to Octavia that she would not stand in the way of the cellist joining her daughter’s family, however, the older mare made it very clear she would not allow her daughter to be hounded by reporters trying to ask her why the famous cellist was trying to join it.

Octavia could see where Sky Dive was coming from. The earth pony was popular enough that she would draw attention. Ponies would notice that she was constantly going to Fillydelphia, so she agreed not to give any interviews or confirm anything to reporters until things were official. She was allowed, however, to confirm with family and friends that she was trying to join a herd as long as they agreed not to confirm anything either.

So far, only Vinyl and their parents knew she was joining this particular herd. Her fellow band members only knew she was trying to join some herd somewhere.

“Well, let’s get backstage and get ready,” Frederick said when seeing that Octavia wasn’t going to give a straighter answer than they had just gotten.

“I’m surprised they dared coming here. They do know Sky Dive attends the Baltimare Ball, don’t they?” Beauty grunted and rescued her sousaphone case from the ground.

“Even she knows she can’t constantly chase them off, just so long as they don’t try bothering her too much,” Parish chuckled and followed the rest of the band to the backstage entrance.

Oh boy. Octavia tried her best to look nonchalant. She had completely forgotten that little fact.

With the reporters now well behind them, the band went to prepare as the ball would start soon. Once on stage, after making sure their instruments were all tuned and ready, they started playing for the crowd of ponies attending.

Octavia took a moment to glance over the audience. She quickly spotted a sky-blue pegasus mare with a pinkish-violet mane and tail. The elderly mare was thin, had golden bands in her mane and had silver hoof bands on two of her legs.

Sky Dive, the cellist recognized the pegasus. She was speaking with some important-looking ponies. Octavia was sure they were tied to the fashion industry somehow. Right now though, that wasn’t important, just that the band performed well.

Still, Octavia couldn’t help wondering if Sky Dive was judging her. Every time the pegasus glanced towards the stage, her eyes always landed on the cellist.

It isn’t just her daughter; she also has a grandson in the herd. She can’t possibly like the attention this is already getting. Octavia silently gulped, but banished her nervous thoughts deep into her mind. She couldn’t afford being distracted during a performance.

Usually Octavia enjoyed performing, often feeling like they were far too short because time just flew. Now, however, it was like things were taking forever. The scores were so slow. She kept wondering if Sky Dive would want to know why the horde of reporters was outside wanting to know about the herd.

Finally. Octavia held back her relief when the band arrived at the last score they had decided on for the ball. Right now she just wanted to flee backstage, away from the scrutinizing eyes of the old pegasus.

At last the final tone was played, and the band stopped. Octavia just about managed to keep up a professional appearance while taking a bow for the applauding audience. Then she somehow managed to not make it look like she was hurrying backstage well ahead of the rest. She threw herself into the dressing room and after closing the door and sunk to the floor.

“She’s going to tear me to shreds. She must know about the reporters outside. I clearly wasn’t careful enough if they have caught wind of it,” Octavia rambled, holding her head with her front hooves.

“Oh, don’t tell me I’ve blown it already. Things were going so well! Blue Axe loves me. Chatting with Dew over tea is so much fun. Private is getting over his fan daze and Sombra is not too bad…” Octavia looked up quickly when there was a knock on the door. “Um, yes?”

“Uh, Miss Octavia, Sky Dive wishes to speak with you,” a voice spoke from beyond the door, sounding like one of the stagehands. Octavia paled when hearing her name.

Timing! That mare has the worst timing! The cellist quickly sat up and took a deep breath to try and calm herself down. “Um, show her in.”

The door opened and in walked Sky Dive. Octavia smiled hesitantly at the old mare, desperate to show she was not scared out of her wits right now.

“Dear, that was an amazing performance by your band,” the old pegasus said just as the door closed behind her. “I can see why the mayor keeps booking you for the annual ball.”

“T-thanks,” the earth pony accepted the compliment, for now, figuring this was just polite small talk before the serious one started.

Sky Dive did drop her smile a little bit and gave the door a sharp glare. Octavia cringed and braced herself for the worst.

“Now we are going to have to get you out of here quietly so that rabid pack outside can’t pester you more. Unbelievable what some ponies do to get a story!” the pegasus grunted and returned her attention back to the cellist.

Wait, what? Octavia blinked. She was so unprepared for this that words just failed her.

“It was too much to expect word would not get out. I just failed to realize they would just start hounding you instead. I’m really sorry about that,” Sky Dive continued and looked a bit more solemn. “I sometimes just get so caught up in protecting my daughters, I forget how it might affect other ponies. Granted I got a little spoiled by how indifferent Sombra is toward what others think of him. He’s not shy of crushing their cameras and being very threatening. I can’t expect you to be like that.”

“Err no, I do need to keep up a certain public appearance.” Octavia finally found her voice again.

Sky Dive chuckled at her response. “Indeed you do. Now let’s get you and your band out of here,” Sky Dive nodded and turned back to the door. “Sombra, be a dear and help us out here.”

Octavia blinked. Out of the shadows stepped Sombra as Sky Dive opened the door. The earth pony looked stunned at the dark unicorn.

“I have spells that allow me to be in communication with family members of the herd,” the dark pony simply said, cracking a small smile.

“And they are very useful,” Sky Diver remarked as she stepped outside.

Octavia couldn’t argue with that. Following them both outside, they met up with the rest of the band. Sky Dive explained to them that they would be assisted by Sombra to escape the reporters that were still waiting outside the building. If they couldn’t get at Octavia, they would no doubt try and ask them questions about her.

None of the band was opposed to escaping from the rabble outside. After taking a moment to say goodbye to Octavia, though now wondering why they were being assisted by Sky Dive and King Sombra, they were teleported to the hotel they were staying at.

“If you don’t mind, I would like just to be taken straight home to Ponyville,” Octavia said once it was her turn. She had a feeling the other band members would try and corner her now with questions at the hotel. Plus, the mare felt reporters would still be stalking the hotel in the morning.

“I can do that,” Sombra nodded.

“I will trot down to the hotel and let them know you headed straight home,” Sky Dive offered, surprising Octavia a little by the offer.

Am I in? She couldn’t help but wonder. What else could explain the old mare being so helpful and even Sombra willing to take her all the way to Ponyville?

“Alright then, thanks,” she said. Before Octavia could say much more, she was engulfed by shadows and when the mare could see again, she and Sombra were standing in front of her house in Ponyville.

“Thanks. I just want to crawl under my blanket right now. This has been a little more stressful than I thought it would be.” Octavia looked at Sombra who just nodded.

Sombra turned around to leave, and Octavia was about to open the door when they both heard something. The dark pony was quicker to glare at a nearby bush. Suddenly his magic activated, and using it, he pulled out a camera. Hanging by the neck strap of the camera was a pony.

Oh, you got to be kidding me. Octavia groaned, then her eyes widened in shock. The camera was slowly being crushed in Sombra’s magic while he kept staring murderously at the terrified pony.

“Next time, it will be your skull,” the dark unicorn snarled and dropped the ruined camera and the pony in the process. The reporter just gave a meek yelp and ran off into the darkness.

I may need to take a shower before I go to bed…a cold shower. Octavia looked at Sombra, impressed. “Sky Dive mentioned your camera-crushing hobby. Glad to see it in action.”

“They are slowly learning to stay clear of me,” Sombra muttered, sounding a little embarrassed. He gave Octavia a glance. “You are not looking too alarmed. Dew isn’t too fond of me doing this.”

“Darling, there are things about me you still don’t know,” Octavia grinned wickedly and opened the door to her house. “But to get to know those, we need to make it official.”

She entered and closed the door behind her, trying so hard not to laugh at the stunned expression Sombra had given her as she disappeared inside.

The sisters sat and ate breakfast the next morning. “I don’t know if I’m reading it right, but after last night. I think I may well be in,” Octavia told Vinyl. She was both unsure and kind of excited at the same time. The unicorn just smiled and nodded in response.

“These reporters are getting really persistent. Sombra chased one off that was hiding in the bushes outside our house.” Octavia shook her head.

“My poor friends in the band, they are just not used to all this media attention. Heck, I’m barely used to it. Sure my solo career is doing okay, but I’m far off from being on the level with the likes of Sapphire Shores or Countess Coloratura,” the cellist grunted and sipped her tea.

Vinyl nodded again in agreement. Sure, both were well-known enough to land some good gigs, but the unicorn viewed herself more as a DJ. Keeping the party going was far more her thing. Octavia was considered more of a high society musician, playing in balls and galas for the upper crust of Equestria’s society. Not exactly media sensations like the pop musicians.

“I still can’t thank you enough for your part. I still feel awful how I could think you weren’t paying attention,” Octavia told her sister with an apologetic smile.

The unicorn lifted the googles up from her face to give her sister a pointed stare. Octavia had by now been apologizing for weeks. Vinyl knew why. The earth pony had always been the primmer and more proper sibling. Anytime Octavia felt she had messed up, she could agonize over it for a long time and be constantly apologetic.

As far as Vinyl was concerned, there was no harm or foul. Octavia was a talkative pony who enjoyed small talk and conversations. The unicorn could see why that had made her feel a bit disgruntled trying to engage with a sister who just wasn’t much of a talker.

“Yes, yes I know. Stopping, now,” Octavia dropped her head down a bit trying to contain her giggles. Vinyl had already made it clear that she had nothing to apologize for. They both looked over to the front door when there was a knock.

“Oh, now, who could this be?” Octavia wondered and stood up to go answer the door.

Outside stood Sky Dive. The elder pegasus looked slightly irritated and immediately unfurled a paper once the cellist had opened the door. Octavia blinked. On the front page was a clear view of the house, with her and Sombra standing in front of it. It had been taken from the air.

“I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag,” Sky Dive said and walked in once Octavia stepped aside to let her. The old mare greeted Vinyl, who nodded in response.

“The reporter in the bush was a distraction,” Octavia wasn’t even asking, that had to have been it. The earth pony had taken the paper and scrutinized the photo and the article with it.

“I was expecting some media interest if it came out I was joining a herd, but I wasn’t expecting stealth photographs of me,” the cellist groaned. A small worry in her head surfaced again that Sky Dive was here to read her the riot act.

“I guess it was too much to expect to keep this under wraps. My daughter was worried that someone might get hurt if they got too intrusive. Sombra is still violent,” Sky Dive said and accepted a teacup from Vinyl. Octavia looked at the elder, surprised.

“It was Dew who wanted things to be unconfirmed while nothing was official?” Octavia wondered.

“It has nothing to do with you. She knows that you are famous enough that the media would be curious. However, the herd has no doubt told you that Sombra is still a work in process. He’s still not above threatening with violence those who bother him too much, and he has the powers to act on those threats,” the pegasus explained. “He’s also very protective of those in the herd and with you possibly joining, he would start to extend that protectiveness towards you.”

Yeah, I noticed, Octavia nodded, remembering how Sombra had dealt with the reporter in the bushes.

“However, Sombra draws attention. I know a few tabloids who are just dying to write a story about the former enemy of Equestria living out his retirement in the suburbs of Fillydelphia. Dew can be a bit of a worry wart sometimes, doesn’t want anyone to get hurt,” Sky Dive continued.

“Nobody has gotten hurt yet, aside from that camera yesterday.” Octavia looked at the paper again, rolling her eyes at the article's title. “Late night meeting with the King. Seriously? Sombra nearly snapped my head off when I called him King Sombra. He’s told me he’s renounced his titles.”

Octavia frowned as she considered this, then thought back to Sky Dive’s reaction so far. It didn’t match up to the fierce reputation of the old pegasus. Yet she somehow couldn’t picture Dew Doe having asked her mother to ask her personally to keep things low-key. Dew had struck her as a pony who would just have asked Octavia directly to do that and she would have been more than happy to comply.

“Did Dew actually ask you to handle the press, or have you been testing me this whole time?” A thought had occurred to Octavia. Sky Dive hadn’t really answered her previous question. In the back, she could see Vinyl raise an eyebrow.

Sky Dive took a moment to sip her tea before responding. “Not intentionally, to be honest.”

Before Octavia could inquire any further, there was a rapid knocking on the front door. Octavia glanced at Vinyl, who just shrugged. Even Sky Dive gave no indication she knew who that was. The cellist approached the door and opened it, revealing Dew Doe standing there, also holding a newspaper. Standing further behind was Sombra, probably explaining how she had gotten there so quickly.

“Octavia. Ack, I’m so sorry. I knew you wanted to keep things low…. Mom?” Dew Doe began to ramble quickly, but came to an abrupt halt when seeing the older pegasus.

“Hello dear. I see you have seen today’s papers,” Sky Dive simply greeted her daughter and sipped from her cup.

Dew Doe’s eyes narrowed a little, she stepped in, followed by Sombra. The younger pegasus kept glaring at the older one for a moment, before rolling her eyes and hanging her head. “Ugh, I should not be surprised.”

“Now before anybody makes any more fuss over nothing, let’s all sit down by the table and have some tea,” Octavia declared quickly, figuring already that she needed to defuse the situation quickly. She gave Vinyl a small glare, having heard the unicorn snicker.

Dew made no protest and went to sit down, as did Sombra, who looked a bit amused himself. Sky Dive, for her part, just nodded since she already had a cup and was seated. Octavia then went to get seated herself.

“Now first of all. Let’s make something very clear, yes Sky Dive approached me a while ago and asked me to agree to a media silence. I take it you, Dew Doe, was never consulted on that?” the cellist started once drinks had been dispensed.

“No. Granted I did say once that I was a little worried the newspapers might start wondering why you were constantly going to Fillydelphia, but I would never tell mom to go to you about that,” Dew Doe said and eyed her mother. “When you told me that you weren’t going to say anything to the papers, I assumed it was just your idea.”

“And to be fair, I never clarified,” Octavia nodded. Now all eyes went to Sky Dive.

“I do apologize if anyone feels I overstepped my bounds. But you, Dew Doe, know how I feel about the press and their constant intrusion and mangling of facts. Just look at the headlines. They make it sound like Sombra was here on some secret escapade when all he was doing was escorting Octavia to her home,” the old pegasus stated, giving the paper she had shown Octavia a withering stare.

“Granted some papers are more respectful than others. But I still remember the frenzy over you when you were still a filly model. They kept stating you were the next me, even if I had no intention of trapping you in the modeling industry as my mother had done with me. When I announced you were quitting, because you wanted to quit, one tabloid boldly lied, saying that I was disappointed in you. I think you know very well I was ecstatic you didn’t want to be a model,” Sky Dive shook her head, accepting a refill from Vinyl.

Octavia chimed in. “To be fair… again, I was totally on board with Sky Dive when she asked me to keep things low-key. I know how the press can sometimes skew the facts for a good story. I’ve lost count of all the misconceptions they have reported about me. When I broke up with the last pony I was dating, they made it sound like it was all her fault, no matter how much I stated that it was a mutual agreement that we couldn’t work out our relationship. I just have this prim and proper image with the media. They just couldn’t fathom that some of the faults were also mine.”

Dew Doe had remained silent so far, looking between her mother and Octavia as both spoke. Sombra also did not say a word. He was the only one not drinking anything, just sitting there and observing. Finally, the blue pegasus sighed a bit and put down her cup.

“Alright, I get it, mom. You were just being you,” she relented, then looked at Octavia. “And I guess you too. Then again, I should have known mom would do something like this and ask you instead of assuming.”

“Right. Now that is out of the way, what do we do about this?” Sombra finally spoke up, grabbing one of the papers and holding it up so they could all see the picture on the front. Before anybody could say anything, the attention turned to Vinyl, who had suddenly gasped and raised her hoof. Clearly, an idea had struck the unicorn.

“Since you all have been so curious. I am happy to finally announce that I am in fact joining the herd that recently this year formed in Fillydelphia. I have been in the application process for a few months, and I have now been accepted in as the second mare,” Octavia stated, standing in front of several reporters in front of her house.

The questions started to rain in, but Octava was now in her public appearance mode, keeping her composure and blinking only slightly at the flashes of the cameras. Finally, she raised her hoof to ask for silence.

“I am afraid I will not be answering questions. Selected papers have been granted the rights for an interview on the advice of Sky Dive’s press agent, who has been wonderful in taking over for my old agent, who was going to be retiring this year,” she announced. The cellist hid a smirk when she noted many reporters immediately deflated a bit when hearing the old pegasus name.

Vinyl, you can be so devious when you want to be, Octavia chuckled. Seemed like her sister’s idea was working out so far. Some reporters suddenly seemed to be in a hurry to go away. The number of ponies in front of her had already shrunken a bit.

“That will be all, thank you all for coming. I will give you this one - I shall be moving to Fillydelphia within the next week,” the mare added before turning around to go inside. She immediately noted that no reporter tried to press on with questions.

Once inside, the mare was greeted by Vinyl waiting patiently. The unicorn nearly choked when her sister grabbed her in an airtight hug.

“Vinyl, you’re a genius. Of course, they would back off once they heard Sky Dive was involved,” Octavia giggled and let go. Her sister just smiled in response.

Vinyl had pointed out that the press so far hadn’t caught on that the herd Octavia was aiming to join was connected to Sky Dive. So the unicorn, of course, pointed out that a press release, bluntly stating her involvement, would probably cause most of them to immediately back off. Even some of the worst tabloids in Equestria did not dare incur the wrath of the old pegasus and her team of lawyers.

Sky Dive and Dew Doe had agreed in the end, seeing the logic in that. Since the press wanted news, give them news and make sure that the one name they feared above all was mentioned. Sky Dive was in fact already looking into suing for the unsolicited photo of Sombra and Octavia. The cellist didn’t really want to bother with it, but the old pegasus then said.

“I do have a reputation to maintain, my dear, and Sombra is my son-in-law now.”

Dew Doe had convinced her not to argue about it. Sky Dive would do it anyway. That was just how she was.

Vinyl and Octavia then walked over to the cellist’s part of the house. It was in a little bit of disarray right now. Octavia was still in the process of packing up. Boxes and even crates were slowly filling up with all her belongings, aside from furniture.

“I’m going to miss you, sis,” Octavia said as she proceeded to put a few books in a box. She gave Vinyl a mocking glare. “So you darn better visit. And I’ll make sure to visit too.”

Vinyl just chuckled and started to help with the packing. Part of her was already considering what to do with this part of the house, now that it would be empty. Other parts were already starting to miss having her more refined sister around.

One thing for sure, family reunions are going to be a heck of a lot more interesting, the unicorn thought to herself.

Author's Note

The band members names are all taken from the MLP wiki and yes are the same ponies you see playing with Octavia in the Grand Galloping Gala.

Epilogue - Settling in

It was late in the morning when Octavia finally woke up. She was usually a morning pony who woke up the moment the first rays of the sun began peeking over the horizon. The mare yawned and shook her head to get the unkempt top of her mane out of her eyes, then crawled out of bed, feeling as if she should just return to it.

The pony threw on her dressing gown and made her way out of the bedroom. She headed straight to the downstairs bathroom, but to her dismay, it was locked.

“I’m almost done,” came a quiet response, indicating it was Private who was the occupant.

Shrugging, the cellist headed for the kitchen instead. Might as well start the day with a cup of tea since she couldn't start it with a shower.

Dreams of a quiet wait for the bathroom while sipping tea were, however, shattered the moment she entered the kitchen. The instant she entered, a package of blue fuss with wings named Blue Axe was immediately given to her. Behind the gift was Dew Doe, who was wearing an apron.

“Here, hold that,” was all the Pegasus mare said as she turned around to clean up the most unholy of all messes. A blend of milk, applesauce, and porridge was strewn across the kitchen floor, table and highchair. Nearby was an overturned bowl, the spoon managing to stick vertically up in one of the biggest piles.

It was then that it dawned on Octavia that the foal she had been given was also covered in a mess and was currently cuddling her long mane, all while babbling and giggling away. Clearly, the little colt was very pleased with himself.

“You're evil,” Octavia whispered as she realized that she was getting sticky foal breakfast blend in her mane.

“No, I'm just training you,” Dew said as she continued to clean up the mess, which was followed by a smirk.

“Training me? In what, getting messy during the morning?” the cellist protested and surrendered to hug the foal when the colt hugged her, smearing more mess all over her.

“No, well, that too, but now that you are part of this family, better get used to the chaos,” the blue mare pointed out and giggled when seeing Octavia’s face.

“I thought Sombra was part of this family, not Discord,” the gray pony pretended to grumble. Dew laughed and Octavia smiled. She had already witnessed the messes Blue Axe could make when eating. However, Dew was often more content with letting Private or Sombra hold the sticky child while she cleaned up. Sometimes she even had either of them do both and she just sat back and relaxed.

Figuring she might as well, Octavia got a cloth and started to clean up the worst mess on the foal. He would need a bath to be properly clean, but since the bathroom was currently occupied, this would have to do for now.

“I think I'm coming down with something. I felt a little lightheaded again when I woke up this morning,” Dew mentioned as she finished cleaning the table.

“Oh dear, hope it’s nothing serious,” the cellist said, engaging in a brief tug-o-war with Blue Axe over the cloth. The colt apparently figured he could clean himself on his own.

Dew just nodded in response. At that moment, Private entered the kitchen. The stallion stopped for a short moment, beholding the mess the pegasus was cleaning. Then without a word, grabbed a cloth and started helping get what remained.

“Well, since the bathroom is unoccupied, I'll go take a shower,” Octavia announced and then held up Blue Axe, who was mostly clean now, babbling happily as he waved the dirty cloth. He had won the war over it. “And I'll take him with me.”

Octavia turned around and left the kitchen, meeting Sombra, who was on his way down. The dark pony just arched his brow when seeing the mare and the boy as they made their way to the bathroom.

The shower took a little longer than usual since the mare was now also cleaning Blue Axe. The foal far more enjoyed splashing the water than actually being cleaned by it. By the end, Octavia had to take a moment to dry up the now-flooded bathroom floor.

Once both were dry, the mare took the colt to the living room, intending to put him in the playpen. Sombra was already there, reading a book.

“Dew Doe decided to go ahead and see a doctor about her dizzy spells. Private has already gone to work,” the dark pony informed her. “I can watch Blue Axe. You go get yourself some breakfast.”

“Thanks,” Octavia put the colt down, who immediately grabbed his rattle and started banging it on a set of blocks. The mare just chuckled at his antics, then headed back to the kitchen to finally make herself some tea and breakfast.

Octavia definitely felt like she was settling in. She and Dew could spend hours in the kitchen over tea and just talk. Private enjoyed listening to her practice on the cello. Sombra was even starting to take her out on dates, though whether more would come of it was still up in the air. Blue Axe didn’t mind her at all.

She still missed her sister a bit, but Vinyl made a point of visiting regularly and Octavia did go to Ponyville often enough as well.

Once breakfast was done, the mare returned to the living room. Sombra now lay by the playpen watching Blue Axe play with his toys. Octavia went to pick up a book from the shelf and read a little.

Around noon Dew Doe returned home. Octavia was still reading, but Sombra had recently returned to the living room after taking Blue Axe to the nursery for a nap. Both ponies looked questionably at the pegasus, who looked a little stunned.

“Everything alright?” Octavia asked, arching a brow when Dew Doe slowly fixed her gaze on Sombra.

“I’m pregnant,” Dew Doe simply declared. Causing Sombra to freeze in shock, Octavia gasped, but wasn’t sure if she should congratulate the pegasus or just remain silent. Seemed like this had been very unexpected and unplanned.

“Soo, congrats? Ooor…” Octavia carefully said. Sombra looked now like he wanted to sink into the ground out of embarrassment. Suddenly Dew burst out laughing.

“Oh, I wish I had a picture of your face, Sombra. No, I'm not pregnant. I just had low blood sugar, need to switch my diet up,” the pegasus giggled and walked to a seat to sit down. Sombra did not comment, just quickly nodded.

“He wants kids, but doesn’t think he should have them with me. As far as he’s concerned, I’m Private’s,” Dew Doe quietly relayed to Octavia. “However, I had dizzy spells when I got pregnant with Blue Axe and Sombra was worried I might be pregnant again. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.”

“Ooooh,” Octavia realized the joke now and chuckled. “I did say you are evil.”

Dew Doe grinned innocently and looked at Sombra, who was shaking his head now. “We need to get him to lighten up. He’s so serious all the time.”

“I’ll take your criticism under advisement,” Sombra remarked. “And don’t scare me like that again.”

“After all the times you scared us? I think I’m owed a few moments,” Dew Doe stuck her tongue out at the dark pony, who chuckled.

Yep, joining this group was a good decision, Octavia chuckled and watched for a moment as Dew and Sombra kept ribbing each other. Then she picked up the book again and resumed reading.

“By the way Sombra, if you want kids, you know where my bedroom is,” she couldn’t help shooting in.

“I may have to take you up on that,” Sombra fired right back.

“I can’t wait,” the earth pony grinned.

“Why wait?”

Octavia barely had time to register what was happening. Suddenly shadowy tendrils grabbed her and she and Sombra disappeared from the living room, leaving behind a laughing Dew Doe.

The end